Occurrence and Removal Efficiency of Microplastics in Four Drinking Water Treatment Plants in Zhengzhou, China
Yang Li,
Yinghui Meng,
Liwen Qin,
Minghui Shen,
Tongtong Qin,
Xudong Chen,
Beibei Chai,
Yue Liu,
Yanyan Dou,
Xuejun Duan
Affiliations
Yang Li
School of Energy and Environment, Zhongyuan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450007, China
Yinghui Meng
School of Energy and Environment, Zhongyuan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450007, China
Liwen Qin
School of Energy and Environment, Zhongyuan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450007, China
Minghui Shen
School of Energy and Environment, Zhongyuan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450007, China
Tongtong Qin
School of Energy and Environment, Zhongyuan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450007, China
Xudong Chen
School of Energy and Environment, Zhongyuan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450007, China
Beibei Chai
Innovation Center for Intelligent Regulation & Comprehensive Management of Water Resources, College of Water Resources and Hydropower, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056038, China
Yue Liu
School of Energy and Environment, Zhongyuan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450007, China
Yanyan Dou
School of Energy and Environment, Zhongyuan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450007, China
Xuejun Duan
School of Energy and Environment, Zhongyuan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450007, China
As an emerging contaminant, the presence of microplastics is widespread in the environment. However, current research regarding the removal of microplastics by drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) remains insufficient. This study aims to investigate microplastics in water and sludge in four DWTPs in Zhengzhou; these DWTPs have different water sources. The results revealed that the abundance of microplastics in raw water ranged from 12.80 ± 0.80 to 25.07 ± 1.67 n/L. Overall, fibers and fragments ranging from 10 to 100 μm constituted the primary components. The proportion of white and transparent microplastics was the highest. Among the ten polymer types detected, polyvinyl chloride, polyphenylene oxide, and polyethylene terephthalate were the predominant ones in raw water; polyethylene terephthalate emerged as the prevalent polymer type in treated drinking water, with both polyethylene terephthalate and polyvinyl chloride being primarily present in sludge. The removal rate of microplastics ranged from 45.8% to 74.5%. Furthermore, the removal rates at the sedimentation tank outlet accounted for more than 50.0% of the total removal rate. The abundance of microplastics in sludge was significantly higher than that in water, indicating a concentrated environment for the persistence of microplastics. The proper disposal of sludge has emerged as one of the challenges requiring our attention.