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Evaluation of the Presence of Microplastics in Wastewater Treatment Plants: Development and Verification of Strategies for Their Quantification and Removal in Aqueous Streams

Author

Listed:
  • Ana Belén Lozano Avilés

    (Engineer Water Department, VECTORIS, 30500 Molina de Segura, Spain
    Department of Electromagnetism and Electronics, Faculty of Chemistry, Campus of Espinardo 5, 30100 Murcia, Spain)

  • Ginés Morales Méndez

    (Department of Electromagnetism and Electronics, Faculty of Chemistry, Campus of Espinardo 5, 30100 Murcia, Spain)

  • Francisco del Cerro Velázquez

    (Department of Electromagnetism and Electronics, Faculty of Chemistry, Campus of Espinardo 5, 30100 Murcia, Spain)

Abstract

Water is an essential resource whose quality is threatened by emerging pollutants, including microplastics (MP), whose persistence, bioaccumulation capacity and ecotoxic potential pose a growing risk to ecosystems and human health. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been identified as one of the main sources of these pollutants, as conventional treatments are insufficient to remove them completely. In response to this problem and with the aim of finding more efficient and sustainable solutions, a study has been carried out at WWTP with a pilot MP capture plant capable of detecting, quantifying and removing these particles from different wastewater sources with high precision and sustainability. This proposal represents a significant advance in the mitigation of invisible pollution, contributing to the protection of the environment and public health, achieving an efficiency of over 80% in the removal of plastic particles. This system not only addresses the challenge of environmental protection but also represents an unavoidable commitment to a healthier, more equitable, and sustainable development model for current and future generations, directly contributing to strategic action to advance the fulfillment of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) promoted by the UN (SDG 3, SDG 6, SDG 12, SDG 14 and SDG 15).

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Belén Lozano Avilés & Ginés Morales Méndez & Francisco del Cerro Velázquez, 2025. "Evaluation of the Presence of Microplastics in Wastewater Treatment Plants: Development and Verification of Strategies for Their Quantification and Removal in Aqueous Streams," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-22, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:21:p:9470-:d:1779036
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Laura E. Revell & Peter Kuma & Eric C. Ru & Walter R. C. Somerville & Sally Gaw, 2021. "Direct radiative effects of airborne microplastics," Nature, Nature, vol. 598(7881), pages 462-467, October.
    2. Christina Zeri & Argyro Adamopoulou & Angeliki Koi & Nicholas Koutsikos & Efthymios Lytras & Elias Dimitriou, 2021. "Rivers and Wastewater-Treatment Plants as Microplastic Pathways to Eastern Mediterranean Waters: First Records for the Aegean Sea, Greece," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-16, May.
    3. Maria Cristina Collivignarelli & Marco Carnevale Miino & Francesca Maria Caccamo & Chiara Milanese, 2021. "Microplastics in Sewage Sludge: A Known but Underrated Pathway in Wastewater Treatment Plants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-23, November.
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