Investigating the impact of PVC microplastics on membrane fouling behavior in MBR for enhanced wastewater treatment efficiency.

ABSTRACT: Studies show membrane bioreactor (MBRs) remove microplastics (MPs) effectively, yet their impacts on fouling, sludge, and microbes remain unclear. Findings vary, few investigations exist, and simplified conditions restrict applicability, highlighting the need for more robust, realistic research on wastewater treatment systems. In this study, the effect of MPs on MBR treating simulated urban wastewater was investigated by evaluating chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and membrane fouling by adding polyvinyl chloride microparticles (PVC-MPs) into synthetic feed wastewater. The average particle size of MPs was 6.69 ± 4.2 µm. At steady state, the COD removal was 84.76 ± 4.27% and 92.48 ± 5.62% for MBR and MPs-MBR, respectively. The presence of MPs in the MBR led to a ca. 16 and 35% reduction

SUBMITTER: Nasiri F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12669668 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature