Identification and Quantification of Microplastics in Effluents of Wastewater Treatment Plant by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)

Joaquín Hernández Fernández, Heidis Cano, Yoleima Guerra, Esneyder Puello Polo, John Fredy Ríos-Rojas, Ricardo Vivas-Reyes and Juan Oviedo
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Joaquín Hernández Fernández: Department of Natural and Exact Sciences, Universidad de la Costa, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
Heidis Cano: Department of Civil and Environmental, Universidad de la Costa, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
Yoleima Guerra: Centro de Investigación en Ciencias e Ingeniería, CECOPAT&A, Cartagena 131001, Colombia
Esneyder Puello Polo: Grupo de Investigación en Oxi/Hidrotratamiento Catalítico y Nuevos Materiales, Programa de Química-Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Atlántico, Barranquilla 080003, Colombia
John Fredy Ríos-Rojas: Department of Mechanical, Electronic and Biomedical Engineering, Antonio Nariño University, Bogotá 111821, Colombia
Ricardo Vivas-Reyes: Grupo de Química Cuántica y Teórica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena 130015, Colombia
Juan Oviedo: Grupo de Investigación en Procesos de la Industria Petroquímica, Centro para la Industria Petroquímica—SENA Regional Bolívar, Cartagena 130001, Colombia

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-10

Abstract: In this research, the presence of microplastics was detected through a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis of three wastewater treatment plants. One of these plants applied only a preliminary treatment stage while the others applied up to a secondary treatment stage to evaluate their effectiveness. The results showed the presence of polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which were classified as fragments, fibers or granules. During the evaluation of the plants, it was determined that the preliminary treatment did not remove more than 58% of the microplastics, while the plants applying up to a secondary treatment with activated sludge achieved microplastic removal effectiveness between 90% and 96.9%.

Keywords: efficiency; wastewater treatment plants; microplastics; pollution; removal (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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