Occurrence Characterization and Contamination Risk Evaluation of Microplastics in Hefei’s Urban Wastewater Treatment Plant
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Experimental Methods
2.1. Sample Sites
2.2. Sample Methods
2.3. Experimental Scheme
2.3.1. MPs Separation and Extraction
2.3.2. Observation and Identification of Microplastics
2.3.3. Quantitative Methods for Microplastics
2.3.4. Experimental Quality Control
2.3.5. Data Analysis
2.4. Potential Ecological Risk Assessment of MPs
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Distribution and Reduction of MPS in WWTP
3.2. Source and Variation of MPs in Different Polymer Types in WWTP
3.3. Shape, Distribution and Size of MPs in Sewage Plants
3.4. Contamination Risk Evaluation of MPs in WWTP
4. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Sample Points D (Dry Weather), R (Rainy Weather) | Layout Design Description |
---|---|
Raw water or Grille Front (D1, R1) | Initial wastewater from WWTP. Sewage samples are collected at the grate. |
After grille (D2, R2) | The first physical interception processing. Sewage samples are collected behind the grate. |
After sedimentation Tank (D3, R3) | Gravity deposition of high-density contaminated impurities separates low density suspended matter to the next process. The sewage samples were collected after sand-settling. |
After oxidation Ditch (D4, R4) | (Anaerobic-Anoxic-Aerobic) to maintain the flow of mixed sewage and activated sludge, initial removal of suspended substances. Sewage samples are collected behind the oxidation ditch. |
Inside the secondary sedimentation tank (D5, R5) | The flow velocity and amount of water affect the cross-section of rainwater, and the suspended matter rises. Sewage samples are collected in the secondary sedimentation tank. |
After secondary settling tank (D6, R6) | The mud and water are separated and the suspended impurities form flocculates and sink together. Sewage samples are collected after the secondary sedimentation tank is selected. |
Tail water or After filtration tank (D7, R7) | WWTP outflow tail water. Sewage samples are collected after the denitrification filter. |
Dehydrated sludge (D8, R8) | After being dehydrated by an enrichment centrifuge. Sludge samples are collected on the conveyor belt. |
Treatment Phase | Arrange | MPs Abundance (n/L) | Removal Efficiency (%) | Total Removal Rate of MPs (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Primary processing | D1 to D3, R1 to R3 | 101.9 ± 17.6 to 51.0 ± 7.3, 108.7 ± 20.1 to 81.2 ± 10.8 | 62.9%, 70.4% | 87.7% (D), 83.5% (R) |
Secondary treatment | D4 to D6, R4 to R6 | 71.9 ± 15.3 to 44.2 ± 5.5, 87.4 ± 21.3 to 53.6 ± 7.4 | 55.6%, 57.5% | |
Tertiary or Advanced treatment | D6 to D7, R6 to R7 | 44.2 ± 5.5 to 18.2 ± 3.6, 53.6 ± 7.4 to 26.3 ± 5.1 | 44.9%, 34.6% |
Process Segment | D1 | D2 | D3 | D4 | D5 | D6 | D7 | D8 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scanning points (U1, U2, C3, D4, D5) | 125 | 93 | 62 | 137 | 104 | 78 | 34 | 260 |
Shape (Formula (1)) | ||||||||
Fiber | 5.9 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 4.3 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 5.6 |
Chip | 2.8 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 3.9 |
Sheet | 1.6 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 2.5 |
Particle | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 1.5 |
Size (Formula (1)) | ||||||||
0–100 μm | 2.8 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 3.0 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 4.9 |
100–500 μm | 4.1 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 2.3 |
500–1000 μm | 2.0 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 3.0 |
1000–2500 μm | 1.7 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0 | 1.7 |
2500–5000 μm | 0.6 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 1.5 |
Actual MPs abundance, Formula (1) | 101.9 ± 17.6 | 61.1 ± 9.3 | 51.0 ± 7.3 | 71.9 ± 15.3 | 68.1 ± 13.6 | 44.2 ± 5.5 | 18.2 ± 3.6 | 184.8 ± 28.6 |
Process Segment | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scanning points, (U1, U2, C3, D4, D5) | 85 | 93 | 82 | 113 | 131 | 57 | 55 | 277 |
Shape, (Formula (1)) | ||||||||
Fiber | 5.0 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 3.8 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 5.5 |
Chip | 2.8 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 3.0 |
Sheet | 1.8 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 2.5 |
Particle | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 1.5 |
Size, (Formula (1)) | ||||||||
0–100 μm | 1.7 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 3.3 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 3.3 |
100–500 μm | 4.0 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 3.7 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 5.2 |
500–1000 μm | 1.3 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 2.1 |
1000–2500 μm | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0 | 0.9 |
2500–5000 μm | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 1.1 |
Actual MPs abundance, Formula (1) | 108.7 ± 20.1 | 77.9 ± 11 | 81.2 ± 10.8 | 87.4 ± 21.3 | 117.3 ± 22.4 | 53.6 ± 7.4 | 26.3 ± 5.1 | 178.4 ± 34.3 |
Type of Polymer | PE | PP | PS | PET | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hazard score (Highest level); Sn | 11 | 1 | 4 | 30 | ||||
Process Segment | D | R | D | R | D | R | D | R |
Pn (%) | 11.30 | 15.89 | 6.88 | 12.33 | 9.83 | 8.60 | 10.81 | 8.60 |
H, (Formula (5)) | 1.24 | 1.75 | 0.07 | 0.12 | 0.39 | 0.34 | 3.24 | 2.58 |
Potential ecplogical risk level of MPs | I | I | I | I | I | I | I | I |
PLIi (Formula (2) and (3)) | 2.40 | 2.62 | 1.88 | 2.30 | 1.93 | 2.72 | 1.63 | 1.95 |
Type of Polymer | PU | PA | PF | PVC | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hazard score (Highest level); Sn | 871 | 50 | 1450 | 30 | ||||
Process Segment | D | R | D | R | D | R | D | R |
Pn (%) | 5.65 | 6.54 | 24.32 | 21.68 | 17.94 | 14.95 | 13.27 | 11.40 |
H, (Formula (5)) | 49.22 | 56.98 | 352.70 | 314.39 | 1324.40 | 1104.15 | 663.52 | 570.20 |
Potential ecplogical risk level of MPs | II | II | III | III | III | III | III | III |
PLIi (Formula (2) and (3)) | 1.00 | 1.51 | 1.04 | 1.00 | 1.73 | 2.39 | 1.97 | 2.42 |
PLIzone (Formula (4)) | PLIzone (Dry weather) value is 1.63 (moderately pollution), PLIzone (Rainy weather) value is 2.03 (highly pollution) |
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Meng, X.; Bao, T.; Hong, L.; Wu, K. Occurrence Characterization and Contamination Risk Evaluation of Microplastics in Hefei’s Urban Wastewater Treatment Plant. Water 2023, 15, 686. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15040686
Meng X, Bao T, Hong L, Wu K. Occurrence Characterization and Contamination Risk Evaluation of Microplastics in Hefei’s Urban Wastewater Treatment Plant. Water. 2023; 15(4):686. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15040686
Chicago/Turabian StyleMeng, Xiangwu, Teng Bao, Lei Hong, and Ke Wu. 2023. "Occurrence Characterization and Contamination Risk Evaluation of Microplastics in Hefei’s Urban Wastewater Treatment Plant" Water 15, no. 4: 686. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15040686