Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
  • \
    Start Submission Become a Reviewer

    A review on emerging micro and nanoplastic pollutants, heavy metals and their remediation techniques

    • Gargi Mandal
    • Sumit Mishra


    Abstract

    Plastics have become one of the most concerning pollutants today. They are non-biodegradable and potentially carcinogenic and lead to the generation of microplastics categorised as an emerging pollutant. Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than 5 microns in size. They are reported in various parts of the biosphere including human blood and tissues of various organs. Industrial and domestic effluents are two major contributing sources of microplastics in the ecosystem. A large volume of microplastics escape from the filtration processes of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). This review studies the various removal methods for these pollutants in large-scale as well as lab-scale models and the present state of art facilities available to deal with it.

    Keywords: Microplastics Emerging pollutants Heavy metals wastewater treatment plant
    Section

    References

    1. Abdelwahab, O. (2014). Assessment of raw luffa as a natural hollow oleophilic fibrous sorbent for oil spill cleanup. Alexandria Eng. J., 213-218. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2013.11.001
    2. Akarsu, C. &. (2021). Electrocoagulation/electroflotation process for removal of organics and microplastics in laundry wastewater. CLEAN–Soil, Air, Water. doi:10.1002/clen.202000146.
    3. Akbal, F. &. (2010). Comparison of electrocoagulation and chemical coagulation for heavy metal removal. Chemical Engineering & Technology, 1655-1664. doi:10.1002/ceat.201000091
    4. Al-Qodah, Z. &.-S. (2017). Heavy metal ions removal from wastewater using electrocoagulation processes: a comprehensive review. Separation Science and Technology, 2649-2676. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01496395.2017.1373677
    5. Bao, L. J. (2012). China's water pollution by persistent organic pollutants. Environmental Pollution, 100-108. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2011.12.022
    6. Bayo, J. L.-C. (2020). Membrane bioreactor and rapid sand filtration for the removal of microplastics in an urban wastewater treatment plant. Marine Pollution Bulletin. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111211
    7. Bazrafshan, E. M.-M. (2015). Heavy metals removal from aqueous environments by electrocoagulation process–a systematic review. Journal of environmental health science and engineering, 1-16. doi:10.1186/s40201-015-0233-8
    8. Bell, K. W.-L. (2011). Emerging Pollutants. Water Environment Research, 83, 1906-1984. doi:https://doi.org/10.2175/106143011X13075599870298
    9. Bilgin, M. Y. (2020). Microplastic removal by aerated grit chambers versus settling tanks of a municipal wastewater treatment plant. Journal of Water Process Engineering. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2020.101604
    10. Blumer, M. (1969). Oil pollution of the ocean. In Oil on the Sea. Springer, Boston, MA, 5-13.
    11. Browne, M. C. (2011). Accumulation of Microplastic on Shorelines Worldwide: Sources and Sinks. Environmental Science & Technology, 9175-9179. doi:https://doi.org/10.1021/es201811s
    12. Carr, S. A. (2016). Transport and fate of microplastic particles in wastewater treatment plants. Water research, 174-182. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2016.01.002
    13. Catrouillet, C. D. (2021). Metals in microplastics: determining which are additive, adsorbed, and bioavailable. Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts, 553-558. doi:10.1039/d1em00017a
    14. Cheung, P. F. (2016). Evidence of microbeads from personal care product contaminating the sea. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 582-585. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.05.046
    15. Çobanoğlu, H. B. (2021). Genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of polyethylene microplastics on human peripheral blood lymphocytes. . Chemosphere. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.129805
    16. Cunha, C. S. (2020). Microalgal-based biopolymer for nano-and microplastic removal: a possible biosolution for wastewater treatment plant. . Environmental Pollution. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114385
    17. Deblonde, T. L. (2011). Emerging pollutants in wastewater: A review of the literature. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 442-448. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2011.08.002
    18. Duruibe, J. O. (2007). Heavy metal pollution and human biotoxic effects. International Journal of physical sciences, 112-118.
    19. El Hadri, H. G. (2020). Trace element distribution in marine microplastics using laser ablation-ICP-MS. . Marine Pollution Bulletin. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111716
    20. Emamjomeh, M. M. (2009). Review of pollutants removed by electrocoagulation and electrocoagulation/flotation processes. . Journal of environmental management, 1663-1679. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2008.12.011
    21. Fendall, L. S. (2009). Contributing to marine pollution by washing your face: microplastics in facial cleansers. Marine pollution bulletin, 1225-1228. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2009.04.025
    22. Feng, Y. W. (2017). Furfuryl alcohol modified melamine sponge for highly efficient oil spill clean-up and recovery. Journal of Materials Chemistry, 21893-21897. doi:10.1039/x0xx00000x
    23. Franco, C. A. (2014). Adsorptive removal of oil spill from oil-in-fresh water emulsions by hydrophobic alumina nanoparticles functionalized with petroleum vacuum residue. . Journal of colloid and interface science, 168-177. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2014.03.051
    24. Ghazouani, M. B. (2020). Combined electrocoagulation and electrochemical treatment on BDD electrodes for simultaneous removal of nitrates and phosphates. . Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2020.104509
    25. Gurung, K. B. (2014). Feasibility study of submerged membrane bioreactor (MBR) as an alternative to conventional activated sludge process (CASP) for municipal wastewater treatment plant: A pilot scale study.
    26. Iqbal, M. A. (2009). Studies on heavy metal ion pollution of ground water sources as an effect of municipal solid waste dumping. African Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 117-122.
    27. Jaishankar, M. T. (2014). Toxicity, mechanism and health effects of some heavy metals. Interdisciplinary toxicology. doi:10.2478/intox-2014-0009
    28. Jiang, J. Q. (2018). Occurrence of microplastics and its pollution in the environment: A review. Sustainable production and consumption, 16-23. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2017.11.003
    29. Jiang, Q. (2018). Occurrence of microplastics and its pollution in the environment: A review. Jia-Qian Jiang, 16-23. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2017.11.003.
    30. Karan, C. P. (2011). Oil spill cleanup by structured fibre assembly.
    31. Kershaw, P. (2015). Sources, fate and effects of microplastics in the marine environment: a global assessment. GESAMP, IMO, 90-96.
    32. Kirstein, I. V.-F. (2016). Dangerous hitchhikers? Evidence for potentially pathogenic Vibrio spp. on microplastic particles. Marine environmental research, 1-8. doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2016.07.004
    33. Lares, M. N. (2018). Occurrence, identification and removal of microplastic particles and fibers in conventional activated sludge process and advanced MBR technology. Water Research, 236-246. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2018.01.049
    34. Laskar, N. &. (2019). Plastics and microplastics: A threat to environment. . Environmental technology & innovation. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2019.100352
    35. Lei, L. W. (2018). Microplastic particles cause intestinal damage and other adverse effects in zebrafish Danio rerio and nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Science of the total environment, 1-8. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.103
    36. Lu, Y. Z. (2016). Uptake and accumulation of polystyrene microplastics in zebrafish (Danio rerio) and toxic effects in liver. Environmental science & technology, 4054-4060. doi:https ://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b001 83
    37. Luo, H. X. (2019). Leaching behavior of fluorescent additives from microplastics and the toxicity of leachate to Chlorella vulgaris. Science of the Total Environment, 1-9. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.401
    38. Luo, H. Z. (2020). Aging of microplastics affects their surface properties, thermal decomposition, additives leaching and interactions in simulated fluids. Science of The Total Environment. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136862
    39. Luo, W. S. (2019). Comparison of microplastic pollution in different water bodies from urban creeks to coastal waters. Environmental Pollution, 174-182. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.11.081
    40. Ma, B. X. (2019). Characteristics of microplastic removal via coagulation and ultrafiltration during drinking water treatment. Chemical Engineering Journal, 159-167. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2018.11.155
    41. Mandal, B. K. (2002). Arsenic round the world: a review. Talanta, 201-235. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0039-9140(02)00268-0
    42. Mason, S. A. (2016). Microplastic pollution is widely detected in US municipal wastewater treatment effluent. Environmental pollution,, 1045-1054. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.08.056
    43. Mehmood, A. K. (2021). Carbon and polymer-based magnetic nanocomposites for oil-spill remediation—a comprehensive review. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 54477-54496. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-16045-0
    44. Moussa, D. T.-N.-M. (2017). A comprehensive review of electrocoagulation for water treatment: Potentials and challenges. Journal of environmental management, 24-41. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.10.032
    45. Murphy, F. E. (2016). Wastewater treatment plant works (WwTW) as a source of microplastics in the aquatic environment. Environmental science & technology, 5800-5808. doi:https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b05416
    46. Nakazawa, Y. A. (2021). Differences in removal rates of virgin/decayed microplastics, viruses, activated carbon, and kaolin/montmorillonite clay particles by coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, and rapid sand filtration during water treatment,. Water Research. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117550.
    47. Nazaripour, M. R. (2021). Research trends of heavy metal removal from aqueous environments. Journal of Environmental Management. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112322
    48. Nelson-Smith, A. (1971). The problem of oil pollution of the sea. In Advances in marine biology Academic Press, 215-306.
    49. Oliveira, L. M. (2021). Sorption as a rapidly response for oil spill accidents: A material and mechanistic approach. . Journal of Hazardous Materials. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124842
    50. Oribayo, O. F. (2017). Synthesis of lignin-based polyurethane/graphene oxide foam and its application as an absorbent for oil spill clean-ups and recovery. Chemical Engineering Journal, 191-202. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2017.04.054
    51. Padervand, M. L. (2020). Removal of microplastics from the environment. A review. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 807-828. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-020-00983-1
    52. Patrick, L. (2002). Mercury toxicity and antioxidants: part I: role of glutathione and alpha-lipoic acid in the treatment of mercury toxicity.(Mercury Toxicity). Alternative Medicine Review, 456-472.
    53. Patrick, L. (2003). Toxic metals and antioxidants: Part II. The role of antioxidants in arsenic and cadmium toxicity. Alternative medicine review.
    54. Perren, W. W. (2018). Removal of microbeads from wastewater using electrocoagulation. ACS omega, 3357-3364. doi:10.1021/acsomega.7b02037
    55. Perren, W. W. (2018). Removal of microbeads from wastewater using electrocoagulation. . ACS omega, 3357-3364. doi:10.1021/acsomega.7b02037
    56. Qasem, N. A. (2021). Removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater: A comprehensive and critical review. Npj Clean Water, 1-15. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41545-021-00127-0
    57. Rillig, M. (2012). Microplastic in Terrestrial Ecosystems and the Soil? Environmental Science & Technology, 6453-6454. doi:10.1021/es302011r
    58. Rillig, M. C. (2017). Microplastic transport in soil by earthworms. Scientific reports, 1-6. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-01594-7
    59. Ritchie, H. &. (2018). Plastic pollution. Our World in Data.
    60. Rochman, C. M. (2018). Microplastics research—from sink to source. Science, 28-29. doi:10.1126/science.aar7734
    61. Ryan, P. (2016). Ingestion of plastics by marine organisms. Hazardous chemicals associated with plastics in the marine environment, 235-266. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/698_2016_21
    62. Saad, L. (2009). Water pollution Americans’ top green concern. Retrieved from https://news.gallup.com/poll/117079/waterpollution-americans-top-green-concern.aspx
    63. Sayed, K. B. (2021). Bioremediation of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) by bioaugmentation and biostimulation in water with floating oil spill containment booms as bioreactor basin. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. doi:doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052226
    64. Schwarzenbach, R. P. (2010). Global water pollution and human health. . Annual review of environment and resources, 109-136. doi:10.1146/annurev-environ-100809-125342
    65. Shen, M. H. (2021). Removal of microplastics from wastewater with aluminosilicate filter media and their surfactant-modified products: Performance, mechanism and utilization. Chemical Engineering Journal. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2021.129918
    66. Shen, M. Z. (2022). Efficient removal of microplastics from wastewater by an electrocoagulation process. Chemical Engineering Journal. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2021.131161
    67. Silva, A. L. (2021). New frontiers in remediation of (micro) plastics. . Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cogsc.2020.100443
    68. Singh, A. L. (2013). Nitrate and phosphate contamination in water and possible remedial measures. Environmental problems and plant, 44-56. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304019296
    69. Stephenson, T. B. (2000). Membrane bioreactors for wastewater treatment plant. IWA publishing.
    70. Sun, C. W. (2020). Fabrication of robust and compressive chitin and graphene oxide sponges for removal of microplastics with different functional groups. . Chemical Engineering Journal. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2020.124796
    71. Sun, C. W. (2021). Biodegradable and re-usable sponge materials made from chitin for efficient removal of microplastics. . Journal of Hazardous Materials. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126599
    72. Talvitie, J. M. (2017). How well is microlitter purified from wastewater?–A detailed study on the stepwise removal of microlitter in a tertiary level wastewater treatment plant. Water research, 164-172. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2016.11.046
    73. Talvitie, J. M. (2017). Solutions to microplastic pollution–Removal of microplastics from wastewater effluent with advanced wastewater treatment plant technologies. Water research, 401-407. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2017.07.005
    74. Tang, Y. Z. (2021). Removal of microplastics from aqueous solutions by magnetic carbon nanotubes. . Chemical Engineering Journal. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2020.126804
    75. Upadhyay, U. S. (2021). Recent advances in heavy metal removal by chitosan based adsorbents. Carbohydrate Polymers. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.117000
    76. Velusamy, K. P. (2021). Advanced techniques to remove phosphates and nitrates from waters: a review. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 3165-3180. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-021-01239-2
    77. Verma, S. K. (2019). Sources of nuclear pollutants and their controls. Pollutants from energy sources, 139-147. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3281-4_9
    78. Walker, R. (1990). Nitrates, nitrites and N‐nitrosocompounds: A Review of the Occurrence in Food and Diet and the Toxicological Implications. Food Additives & Contaminants, 717-768. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02652039009373938
    79. Wang, J. S. (2021). Adsorption and thermal degradation of microplastics from aqueous solutions by Mg/Zn modified magnetic biochars. Journal of hazardous materials. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126486
    80. Wang, Y. L. (2021). The removal efficiency and mechanism of microplastic enhancement by positive modification dissolved air flotation. . Water Environment Research, 693-702. doi:10.1002/WER.1352
    81. Wang, Z. S. (2021). Fatigue resistance, re-usable and biodegradable sponge materials from plant protein with rapid water adsorption capacity for microplastics removal. . Chemical Engineering Journal. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2021.129006
    82. Woodall, L. S. (2014). The deep sea is a major sink for microplastic debris. Royal Society Open Science. doi:https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.140317
    83. Wright, S. L. (2013). The Physical Impacts of Microplastics on Marine Organisms: a Review. Environmental Pollution. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2013.02.031
    84. Xu, Q. H. (2021). Coagulation removal and photocatalytic degradation of microplastics in urban waters. Chemical Engineering Journal. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2021.129123
    85. Yang, D. J. (2008). Titanate nanofibers as intelligent absorbents for the removal of radioactive ions from water. Advanced Materials, 2777-2781. doi:10.1002/adma.200702055
    86. Zhang, Y. Z. (2021). Coagulation removal of microplastics from wastewater by magnetic magnesium hydroxide and PAM. . Journal of Water Process Engineering. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2021.102250
    87. Zhu, X. Q. (2020). Bioaccumulation of microplastics and its in vivo interactions with trace metals in edible oysters. Marine Pollution Bulletin. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111079

    How to Cite

    A review on emerging micro and nanoplastic pollutants, heavy metals and their remediation techniques. (2023). Nanofabrication, 8. https://doi.org/10.37819/nanofab.008.302
    ACM ACS APA ABNT Chicago Harvard IEEE MLA Turabian Vancouver
    Download Citation
    Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS) BibTeX

    How to Cite

    A review on emerging micro and nanoplastic pollutants, heavy metals and their remediation techniques. (2023). Nanofabrication, 8. https://doi.org/10.37819/nanofab.008.302

    HTML
    580

    Total
    818 19

    Share

    Search Panel

    Gargi Mandal
    Google Scholar
    Pubmed
    JDMFS Journal

    Sumit Mishra
    Google Scholar
    Pubmed
    JDMFS Journal

    Downloads

    Article Details

    Most Read This Month

    License

    Copyright (c) 2023 Gargi Mandal, Sumit Mishra

    Creative Commons License

    This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

    Copyright © 2023 EurAsia Academic Publishing Group. All rights reserved