Beyond Removal: A Critical Review of Microplastic Mass Flux, In-Plant Transformation, and Elimination in WWTPs

TL;DR

This paper reviews how wastewater treatment plants handle microplastics, showing that advanced methods can remove most but sludge remains a major source of environmental release.

Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive synthesis of MP mass flux and transformation in WWTPs, highlighting gaps in monitoring and advocating for elimination technologies.

Findings

Conventional WWTP processes remove 60–90% of microplastics, while advanced methods exceed 95%.

Sewage sludge is identified as a primary sink for microplastics, risking environmental re-entry.

Fragmentation into nanoplastics and inconsistent analytical methods are key unresolved issues.

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) persist in wastewater treatment systems owing to their durability and mobility. As critical interception points, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) receive MPs from diverse domestic and industrial sources. This review synthesizes peer-reviewed studies (2009–2026) to evaluate MP mass flux, in-plant transformation, and elimination across primary, secondary, and tertiary stages. While conventional processes typically remove 60–90% of MPs, advanced tertiary technologies, such as membrane bioreactors and rapid sand filtration, can achieve efficiencies exceeding 95%. The fate of MPs is governed by density-driven settling and biological aggregation; however, the significant accumulation of MPs in sewage sludge represents a critical pathway for environmental re-entry. This review highlights key knowledge gaps, including inconsistent analytical methodologies, evidence of in-plant fragmentation generating nanoplastics (NPs), and uncertainties regarding full-scale mass flows. Furthermore, the review synthesizes mass flux data to clarify the partitioning of MPs between the effluent and sludge, identifying biosolids as a primary sink. The review concludes by proposing a transition from physical separation to elimination technologies (e.g., AOPs), alongside standardized monitoring and regulatory frameworks, to achieve sustainable reductions in MP emissions.

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