Microplastics Cause Concern as Study Shows Their Impact on Water Treatment
Researchers at the University of Surrey and Deakin’s Institute have teamed up to investigate nano and microplastics in water and wastewater treatment processes. According to their study, which is published in the Journal of Water Research, plastic is broken down into microscopic components that can severely impede the efficiency of the water treatment process.
Microplastics can cause filtration units to clog and decreasing their ability to filter properly. Additionally, these microplastic particles can cause mechanical damage to the sensitive equipment in the treatment facility.
Dr. Lee, the project leader, said: "The presence of nano and microplastics in water has become a major environmental challenge. Due to their small size, nano and microplastics can easily be ingested by living organisms and travel along water and wastewater treatment processes. In large quantities, they impact the performance of water treatment processes by clogging up filtration units and increasing wear and tear on materials used in the design of water treatment units."