An assessment of the impact of structure and type of microplastics on ultrafiltration technology for microplastic remediation

Abstract

Microplastic, which is of size less than 5 mm, is gaining a lot of attention as it has become a new arising contaminant because of its ecophysiology impact on the aquatic environment. These microplastics are found in freshwater or drinking water and are the major carriers of pollutants. Removal of this microplastic can be done through the primary treatment process, secondary treatment process, and tertiary treatment process. One approach for microplastic remediation is ultrafiltration technology, which involves passing water through a membrane with small pores to filter out the microplastics. However, the efficiency of this technology can be affected by the structure and type of microplastics present in the water. New strategies can be created to improve the technology and increase its efficacy in removing microplastics from water by knowing how various types and shapes of microplastics react during ultrafiltration. The filter-based technique, that is, ultrafiltration has achieved the best performance for the removal of microplastic. But with the ultrafiltration, too some microplastic that are of sizes less than of ultrafiltration membrane passes through the filter and enters the food chain. Accumulation of this microplastic on the membrane also leads to membrane fouling. Through this review article, we have assessed the impact of the structure, size, and type of MPs on ultrafiltration technology for microplastic remediation, with that how these factors affect the efficiency of the filtration process and challenges occur during filtration.