Microplastics with adsorbed contaminants: Mechanisms and Treatment

• Published in: Environmental challenges (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Vol. 3; p. 100042
• Main Authors: Joo, Sung Hee, Liang, Yejin, Kim, Minbeom, Byun, Jaehyun, Choi, Heechul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.04.2021; The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adsorption mechanisms; Contaminants; Membrane filtration; Microplastics; PP; PCBs; PS; POPs; DM; PFAS; LDPE; EDCs; HDPE; UF; PFHxA; DDT; PFCAs; FOSA or PFOSA; MF; Adsorption mechanisms; MBR; OM; SR; PAs; PFCs; PBDEs; GAC; PPCPs; NOM; PFOA; PVDF; NPs; MPs; PA; Contaminants; PE; TMP; Membrane filtration; NF; PAHs; Microplastics; PVC; RO; PET; PFOS; PBDEs, polybrominated diphenyl ethers; PFCs, perfluorinated compounds; PFHxA, perfluorohexanoic acid; MF, microfiltration; PP, polypropylene; PE, polyethylene; UF, ultrafiltration; PVDF, polyvinylidene fluoride; FOSA or PFOSA, perfluorooctane sulfonamide; PET, polyethylene terephthalate; PFCAs, perfluorinated carboxylates; PFOS, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid; PCBs, polychlorinated biphenyls; DDT, dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane; NOM, natural organic matter; POPs, persistent organic pollutants; MBR, membrane bioreactor; PAHs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; PS, polystyrene; LDPE, low-density PE; EDCs, endocrine-disrupting compounds; OM, organic matter; MPs, microplastics; PA, polyamide (nylon); TMP, trans membrane pressure; GAC, granular activated carbon; PFAS, per-/poly-fluoroalkyl substances; DM, dynamic membrane; PFOA, perfluorooctanoic acid; HDPE, high-density polyethylene; NPs, nanoplastics; PVC, polyvinyl chloride; SR, synthetic rubber; PAs, polyacrylates; NF, nanofiltration; PPCPs, pharmaceuticals and personal care products; RO, reverse osmosis
• ISSN: 2667-0100; 2667-0100
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envc.2021.100042

•Mechanisms of contaminant adsorption on microplastics were identified.•Removability of contaminant-adsorbing microplastics was reviewed.•The fate and transport of contaminant-adsorbing microplastics were examined.•Factors influencing removal efficiency of microplastics were reviewed. Plastic pollution has been a significant and widespread global issue, and the recent COVID-19 pandemic has been attributed to its worsening effect as plastics have been contaminated with the deadly infectious virus. Microplastics (MPs) may have played a role as a vector that carries hazardous microbes such as emerging bacterial threats (i.e. antibiotic resistant bacteria) and deadly viruses (e.g., coronavirus); this causes great concern over microplastics contaminated with emerging contaminants. Mitigation and treatment of MPs are challenging because of a range of factors including but not limited to physicochemical properties and composition of MPs and pH and salinity of the solution. Despite the heterogeneous nature of aquatic systems, research has overlooked interactions between contaminants and MPs under environmental conditions, degradation pathways of MPs with adsorbed contaminants, and, especially, the role of adsorbed contaminants in the efficiency of MP treatment through membrane filtration, in comparison with other treatment methods. This review aims to (1) analyze an assortment of factors that could influence the removal of MPs and mechanisms of contaminant adsorption on MPs, (2) identify mechanisms influencing membrane filtration of MPs, (3) examine the fate and transport of MPs with adsorbed contaminants, (4) evaluate membrane filtration of contaminant-adsorbing MPs in comparison to other treatment methods, and (5) draw conclusions and the future outlook based on a literature analysis. [Display omitted]