Various advanced wastewater treatment methods to remove microplastics and prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to airborne microplastics

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) and SARS-CoV-2 interact due to their widespread presence in our environment and affect the virus' behaviour indoors and outdoors. Therefore, it is necessary to study the interaction between MPs and SARS-CoV-2. The environmental damage caused by MPs is increasing globally. Emerging pollutants may adversely affect organisms, especially sewage, posing a threat to human health, animal health, and the ecological system. A significant concern with MPs in the air is that they are a vital component of MPs in the other environmental compartments, such as water and soil, which may affect human health through ingesting or inhaling. This work introduces the fundamental knowledge of various methods in advanced water treatment, including membrane bioreactors, advanced oxidation processes, adsorption, etc., are highly effective in removing MPs; they can still serve as an entrance route due to their constantly being discharged into aquatic environments. Following that, an analysis of each process for MPs' removal and mitigation or prevention of SARS-CoV-2 contamination is discussed. Next, an airborne microplastic has been reported in urban areas, raising health concerns since aerosols are considered a possible route of SARS-CoV-2 disease transmission and bind to airborne MP surfaces. The MPs can be removed from wastewater through conventional treatment processes with physical processes such as screening, grit chambers, and pre-sedimentation.

Visible Light Photocatalytic Degradation of Environmental Pollutants Using Zn-Doped NiO Nanoparticles

“…Rhodamine B, a synthetic dye commonly used in the textile, paper, and printing industries, deteriorates water quality, harms aquatic life, and inhibits light transmission [8][9][10]. Various methods have been explored to eliminate such contaminants, including coagulation, electrochemical oxidation, chemical synthesis, reverse osmosis, adsorption, and photocatalysis [11][12][13]. However, traditional techniques are insufficient due to the vast volume of effluent that requires treatment.…”