Study of Methods for Removal of Microplastics Composed of Bisphenol A in Wastewater Treatment Plants

Microplastic particles are generally considered to be plastic particles of less than 5 mm in diameter, usually found in hygiene and skin care products such as exfoliating soaps, skincare products, and toothpaste or formed by the reduction of plastic waste, such as the disposal of plastic fibers in the environment. It is estimated that we ingest the equivalent of a credit card's worth of microplastics every year and the aggravating factor in this problem is a substance called Bisphenol A, commonly found in sunglasses lenses, baby bottles, children's cups, and returnable mineral water bottles, which acts on our bodies as an endocrine system disruptor. The aim of this study was to compare the removal efficiency of microplastics containing bisphenol A found in water from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), their risks to human health and ecosystems, and to determine which of the biosorption, adsorption, and membrane methods are the most effective. Among the results found, we can conclude that membranes were the most efficient, with an average of 83.84%.