Development of a Routine Screening Method for the Microplastic Mass Content in a Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent

Abstract

Graphical Abstract

Assessing the Mass Concentration of Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Wastewater Treatment Plants by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

“…Several studies also quantified MPs in the effluent of WWTPs based on thermal analytical methods. Goedecke et al reported that 1.89–46.42 μg/L PE, 0–35.35 μg/L PP, and 1.60–8.14 μg/L PS MPs were found in the effluent of a German WWTP . Only PE (81–257 μg/L) and PS MPs (0.072 μg/L) were detected in the effluent of two other German WWTPs by Majewsky et al and Funck et al., respectively.…”

“…Simon et al reported that 2223–18,285 and 19–447 items/L MPs (10–500 μm) were found in influent and effluent wastewaters, respectively, and the mass concentrations were estimated as 61–1189 and 0.5–11.9 μg/L, respectively, according to particle size, density, and number . Quantified by TED-GC/MS, the mass concentration of MPs (>50 μm) in effluent wastewaters from a WWTP in Germany was 6.5–51.8 μg/L . The influent or effluent concentrations of MPs reported in these studies were relatively high compared to this study, which may be related to the pollution degree and treatment process of studied WWTPs as well as the differences in quantitative methods …”

“…Thermal analytical methods, such as thermal extraction desorption–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TED-GC/MS) and pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), can accurately determine the mass of MPs, − which may be workable for better understanding the extent of MP pollution in WWTPs compared with particle-related characterization. Using TED-GC/MS, Goedecke et al reported that the mass concentration of MPs in the effluent of a WWTP ranged from 6.5 up to 51.8 μg/L . Although this study provides important data reference on masses of MP emissions in WWTPs, data on the mass concentration, especially the mass removal efficiency of MPs, are still very limited.…”

“…Goedecke et al reported that 1.89−46.42 μg/L PE, 0−35.35 μg/L PP, and 1.60−8.14 μg/L PS MPs were found in the effluent of a German WWTP. 22 Only PE (81−257 μg/L) and PS MPs (0.072 μg/L) were detected in the effluent of two other German WWTPs by Majewsky et al 56 and Funck et al, 57 respectively. The effluent MP type and mass reported in German WWTPs were relatively high compared with the studied WWTPs here, which may be related to the differences in sampling and analysis methods, MP pollution sources, and wastewater treatment processes.…”

“…Simon et al calculated the mass concentration of MPs based on the identification results from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), the volume of the particle, and the polymer density . They reported that 61–1189 and 0.5–11.9 μg/L MPs were found in the influent and effluent of Denish WWTPs, respectively. , However, it was an indirect and rough estimation of the mass of MPs in WWTPs. Thermal analytical methods, such as thermal extraction desorption–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TED-GC/MS) and pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), can accurately determine the mass of MPs, − which may be workable for better understanding the extent of MP pollution in WWTPs compared with particle-related characterization.…”