Abstract：
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are key components for the capture of microplastics (MPs) before they are released into natural waterways. Removal efficiencies as high as 99% may be achieved but sub-micron MPs as well as nanoplastics have been overlooked because of analytical limitations. Furthermore, short MP fibres are of concern because of their low capture rate as well as the lack of understanding of their influence on purification system efficiency. This study has investigated the impact of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) short nanofibres on the performance of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) ultrafiltration membranes during cross-flow operation. Model MP fibres with an average length of 10 ± 7 μm and a diameter of 142 ± 40 nm were prepared via a combination of electrospinning and fine cutting using a cryomicrotome. The manufactured MPs were added to both pure and synthetic domestic wastewater at a concentration of 1 mg.L-1 to determine their impact on the performance of PVDF ultrafiltration membranes. The results show that PET fibres attach to the membrane in a disorganised manner with low pore coverage. The water flux was decreased by 8% for MPs in pure water and no noticeable effect in wastewater after 3 days of filtration. Additionally, the nutrient removal efficiency of the membrane was not altered by the presence of PET MPs. These findings show that MP fibres do not significantly influence the early stages of filtration for a standard concentration of MPs in wastewater treatment plant studies.
摘要：
废水处理厂（WWTP）是在微塑料（MP）释放到自然水道之前捕获它们的关键组件。可以实现高达99%的去除效率,但是由于分析限制,亚微米MPs以及纳米塑料被忽略。此外，短MP纤维由于其低捕获率以及缺乏对其对净化系统效率的影响的理解而受到关注。这项研究研究了聚（对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯）（PET）短纳米纤维对交叉流动操作过程中聚偏氟乙烯（PVDF）超滤膜性能的影响。使用冷冻切片机通过静电纺丝和精细切割的组合制备平均长度为10±7μm和直径为142±40nm的MP型纤维。将制造的MP以Img的浓度添加到纯的和合成的生活废水中。L-1测定了它们对PVDF超滤膜性能的影响。结果表明，PET纤维以无序的方式附着在膜上，孔覆盖率低。对于纯水中的MPs，水通量降低了8％，过滤3天后在废水中没有明显的影响。此外,PETMPs的存在不会改变膜的养分去除效率。这些发现表明，对于污水处理厂研究中的标准浓度的MP，MP纤维不会显着影响过滤的早期阶段。
