Navigating Microplastic Challenges: Separation and Detection Strategies in Wastewater Treatment

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) function as primary receptors of microplastics (MPs), playing a key role in managing these pollutants within wastewater streams. Despite their essential function, WWTPs face limitations in effectively removing MPs from wastewater, indicating to the release of millions of MPs into the surrounding ecosystem. This chapter explores the origins of MPs within WWTPs and characterizing their properties, including polymer composition, morphology, size, and color, across influents, effluents, and sludges. Additionally, it explores the classification of MPs based on various forms such as fragments, films, pellets, beads, and foams, alongside their occurrence within WWTP systems. Subsequent sections discuss the methodologies employed for sampling, extraction, and analysis of MPs, encompassing both physical (visual identification and scanning electron microscopy) and chemical (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and thermal analysis) techniques, highlighting their respective strengths and limitations. However, the chapter emphasizes the lack of standardized protocols for isolating and characterizing MPs within WWTP streams. Consequently, while current methodologies have demonstrated efficacy in environmental MP analysis, further research is needed to establish standardized, reliable, and user-friendly techniques accessible for managing MPs within WWTPs.