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Insights on Microplastic Contamination from Municipal and Textile Industry Effluents and Their Removal Using a Cellulose-Based Approach

Magalhães, Solange ; Paciência, Daniel ; Rodrigues, João M.M. ; Lindman, Björn LU ; Alves, Luís ; Medronho, Bruno LU and Rasteiro, Maria da Graça (2024) In Polymers 16(19).
Abstract

The rampant use of plastics, with the potential to degrade into insidious microplastics (MPs), poses a significant threat by contaminating aquatic environments. In the present study, we delved into the analysis of effluents from textile industries, a recognized major source of MPs contamination. Data were further discussed and compared with a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent. All effluent samples were collected at the final stage of treatment in their respective WWTP. Laser diffraction spectroscopy was used to evaluate MP dimensions, while optical and fluorescence microscopies were used for morphology analysis and the identification of predominant plastic types, respectively. Electrophoresis was employed to unravel... (More)

The rampant use of plastics, with the potential to degrade into insidious microplastics (MPs), poses a significant threat by contaminating aquatic environments. In the present study, we delved into the analysis of effluents from textile industries, a recognized major source of MPs contamination. Data were further discussed and compared with a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent. All effluent samples were collected at the final stage of treatment in their respective WWTP. Laser diffraction spectroscopy was used to evaluate MP dimensions, while optical and fluorescence microscopies were used for morphology analysis and the identification of predominant plastic types, respectively. Electrophoresis was employed to unravel the prevalence of negative surface charge on these plastic microparticles. The analysis revealed that polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyamide were the dominant compounds in textile effluents, with PET being predominant in municipal WWTP effluents. Surprisingly, despite the municipal WWTP exhibiting higher efficiency in MP removal (ca. 71% compared to ca. 55% in textile industries), it contributed more to overall pollution. A novel bio-based flocculant, a cationic cellulose derivative derived from wood wastes, was developed as a proof-of-concept for MP flocculation. The novel derivatives were found to efficiently flocculate PET MPs, thus allowing their facile removal from aqueous media, and reducing the threat of MP contamination from effluents discharged from WWTPs.

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author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
microplastics, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), textile and municipal effluents, wastewater treatment plant
in
Polymers
volume
16
issue
19
article number
2803
publisher
MDPI AG
external identifiers
  • pmid:39408517
  • scopus:85206497325
ISSN
2073-4360
DOI
10.3390/polym16192803
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2024 by the authors.
id
51598012-1012-48a6-a545-bbc14a596093
date added to LUP
2024-12-18 11:43:17
date last changed
2025-07-17 04:44:42
@article{51598012-1012-48a6-a545-bbc14a596093,
  abstract     = {{<p>The rampant use of plastics, with the potential to degrade into insidious microplastics (MPs), poses a significant threat by contaminating aquatic environments. In the present study, we delved into the analysis of effluents from textile industries, a recognized major source of MPs contamination. Data were further discussed and compared with a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent. All effluent samples were collected at the final stage of treatment in their respective WWTP. Laser diffraction spectroscopy was used to evaluate MP dimensions, while optical and fluorescence microscopies were used for morphology analysis and the identification of predominant plastic types, respectively. Electrophoresis was employed to unravel the prevalence of negative surface charge on these plastic microparticles. The analysis revealed that polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyamide were the dominant compounds in textile effluents, with PET being predominant in municipal WWTP effluents. Surprisingly, despite the municipal WWTP exhibiting higher efficiency in MP removal (ca. 71% compared to ca. 55% in textile industries), it contributed more to overall pollution. A novel bio-based flocculant, a cationic cellulose derivative derived from wood wastes, was developed as a proof-of-concept for MP flocculation. The novel derivatives were found to efficiently flocculate PET MPs, thus allowing their facile removal from aqueous media, and reducing the threat of MP contamination from effluents discharged from WWTPs.</p>}},
  author       = {{Magalhães, Solange and Paciência, Daniel and Rodrigues, João M.M. and Lindman, Björn and Alves, Luís and Medronho, Bruno and Rasteiro, Maria da Graça}},
  issn         = {{2073-4360}},
  keywords     = {{microplastics; polyethylene terephthalate (PET); textile and municipal effluents; wastewater treatment plant}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{19}},
  publisher    = {{MDPI AG}},
  series       = {{Polymers}},
  title        = {{Insights on Microplastic Contamination from Municipal and Textile Industry Effluents and Their Removal Using a Cellulose-Based Approach}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/polym16192803}},
  doi          = {{10.3390/polym16192803}},
  volume       = {{16}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}