Eradication of Microplastics in Wastewater Treatment: Overview

Abstract

Microplastics are small plastic with a size of less than 5mm in length. These microplastics are used in many types of products in different forms. In cosmetic and personal care products, they are present in microbeads forms. These microplastics enter the water systems through the products and create water pollution. Their presence in water is harmful to both terrestrial and aquatic organisms. An increase in microplastic production has been observed in recent decades, so there is a need for reliable and precise techniques for remediation of these microplastics because if remediation is not implemented, then there will be an accumulation of microplastic in water and thus harm the ecosystem. In this review article, different remediation strategies have been reviewed, such as technological methods, density-based approach, Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs), Hydrophobicity based approach has been reviewed, biotechnological methods, bioremediation, photodegradation, thermo oxidative degradation, Fenton Like system has been reviewed. These techniques help in solving the microplastic accumulation problems in the water, thus decreasing the microplastic pollution in water. The efficiency of removing the different types of microplastic has also been reviewed in this article.