WERF: Determining the fate and major removal mechanisms of microplastics in water and resource recovery facilities

提案：1707069PI: Belinda sturm该项目的重点是水资源和回收设施（WRRFs）排放的液体和生物固体中微塑料（塑料5mm）的命运。微塑料通常被吸附在活性污泥中，最终通过生物固体释放到环境中。塑料对海洋脊椎动物的有害影响是有据可查的，也是一个主要的环境问题。在这个项目中，将确定塑料的运输途径。这项研究的结果将有助于减少对海洋生态系统的有害影响。这些项目将通过全面的抽样运动使市政当局参与，并将在一个可供公众查阅的基于网络的数据库中传播数据。他们将继续与高中教师合作，完善以微塑料和新出现的污染物为重点的教学模块。当微塑料被吸附或夹带在活性污泥絮体结构中时，它们很可能被去除。主要假设是污泥结构和胞外聚合物（EPS）含量是微塑性去除的控制变量。特别是，假设具有高表面积和高EPS含量的微生物聚集体可以捕获更多的微塑料。为了验证这一假设，项目主管部门将对采用不同一级和二级处理工艺的选定水资源再生资源进行调查。为了进一步量化微塑料捕获效率，pi将在实验室规模和中试规模的反应器中确定EPS对微塑料吸附和保留效率的影响，并比较传统和好氧颗粒污泥工艺对微塑料吸附的影响。活性污泥工艺，特别是重力沉降，并不是用来去除低密度微塑料颗粒的。当微塑料被吸附或夹带在活性污泥絮体结构中时，它们很可能被去除。随着WRRFs微塑性负荷的增加，研究微塑性相关微生物的生态位分离对活性污泥工艺性能的影响具有重要意义。这项研究的一个结果将是更好地了解微塑料在wrrf中的命运。该项目的结果将提供一个框架，以全面管理wrr中的微塑料污染。

Proposal: 1707069PI: Belinda SturmThe focus of this project is the fate of microplastics (plastics 5mm) in the liquid and biosolids discharged from water resource and recovery facilities (WRRFs). Microplastics are typically entrained within activated sludge and ultimately released to the environment through biosolids. The detrimental effects of plastics on marine vertebrates is well-documented and a major environmental concern. In this project the transport pathways for plastics will be identified. The results of this study will help reduce harmful marine ecosystem impacts. The PIs will engage municipalities through a full-scale sampling campaign and will disseminate the data in a web-based database that is publically accessible. They will continue to collaborate with high school teachers to refine teaching modules dealing with topics focused on microplastics and emerging contaminants.Microplastics are likely to be removed when they are adsorbed or entrained within the activated sludge floc structure. The main hypothesis is that the sludge structure and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) content are controlling variables to microplastic removal. In particular, the assumption is that microbial aggregates with high surface areas and high EPS content can capture more microplastics. To test this hypothesis the PIs will conduct a survey of select WRRFs with different primary and secondary treatment processes. To further quantify microplastics capture efficiencies, the PIs will determine the effect of EPS on microplastic adsorption and retention efficiency within lab-scale and pilot-scale reactors and compare conventional and aerobic granular sludge processes for microplastic adsorption. The activated sludge process, and particularly gravity sedimentation, was not designed to remove low density microplastic particles. Microplastics are likely to be removed when they are adsorbed or entrained within the activated sludge floc structure. As microplastic loads to WRRFs increase, it is important to study the effect of niche separation of microplastic-associated microorganisms on activated sludge process performance. One outcome of the research will be a better understanding the fate of microplastics in WRRFs. Results of this project will provide a framework for comprehensive management of microplastics contamination in WRRFs.