Detection and Analysis of Microfibers and Microplastics in Wastewater from a Textile Company

Sinem Hazal Akyildiz; Rossana Bellopede; Hande Sezgin; Ipek Yalcin-Enis; Bahattin Yalcin; Silvia Fiore

doi:10.3390/microplastics1040040

journal article Open Access Oct 03, 2022

Detection and Analysis of Microfibers and Microplastics in Wastewater from a Textile Company

Sinem Hazal Akyildiz

Rossana Bellopede

Hande Sezgin Ipek Yalcin-Enis Bahattin Yalcin Silvia Fiore

Microplastics Vol. 1 No. 4 pp. 572-586 · MDPI AG

View at Publisher Save 10.3390/microplastics1040040

Abstract

Textile wastewater is polluted by inorganic/organic substances, polymers, dyes, and microfibers (MFs), which are microplastics (MPs) and natural fibers. This work is aimed at the preliminary investigation of MFs and MPs in textile industrial wastewater, and at evaluating the removal efficiency of an on-site wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Ten samples of inflows and outflows of the WWTP of a textile company (applying a physic-chemical process) have been analyzed. Firstly, the samples underwent a pretreatment with 15% hydrogen peroxide at 25 °C for 5 days to remove organic compounds. Secondly, the MFs were recovered from the aqueous phase by pre-screening centrifugation, density separation, and filtration as alternative options. Filtration obtained the best performances, compared to the other recovery processes. Thirdly, the MFs were counted through optical microscopy and the MPs were identified through micro-FTIR. The MFs amount in the inflow samples was in the range of 893–4452 MFs/L. The outflow samples (310–2404 MFs/L) exhibited a 38–65% reduction compared to the inflows, demonstrating that up to 62% of residual MFs can enter the sewer network or the receiving water body. Cotton and wool, and numerous MPs (acrylic, polyester, polypropylene, polyamide, and viscose/rayon) were identified in the inflow and outflow samples (with the only exception of “dense” viscose (rayon), not detected in the outflows, and probably retained by the WWTP with the sludge). This study, even if just preliminary, offers interesting hints for future research on MFs/MPs detection in textile wastewater, and on the performance of a full-scale WWT process for their removal.

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Details

Published: Oct 03, 2022
Vol/Issue: 1(4)
Pages: 572-586
License: View

Authors

S

Sinem Hazal Akyildiz

Department of Textile Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Marmara University, Göztepe Campus, 34722 Istanbul, Turkey

R

Rossana Bellopede

Department of Engineering for Environment, Land and Infrastructures, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Torino, Italy

H

Hande Sezgin

Department of Textile Engineering, Technologies and Design Faculty, Istanbul Technical University, Gumussuyu Campus, 34437 Istanbul, Turkey

I

Ipek Yalcin-Enis

Department of Textile Engineering, Technologies and Design Faculty, Istanbul Technical University, Gumussuyu Campus, 34437 Istanbul, Turkey

B

Bahattin Yalcin

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Marmara University, Göztepe Campus, 34722 Istanbul, Turkey

S

Silvia Fiore

Department of Engineering for Environment, Land and Infrastructures, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Torino, Italy

Funding

internal resources

Cite This Article

Sinem Hazal Akyildiz, Rossana Bellopede, Hande Sezgin, et al. (2022). Detection and Analysis of Microfibers and Microplastics in Wastewater from a Textile Company. Microplastics, 1(4), 572-586. https://doi.org/10.3390/microplastics1040040

Detection and Analysis of Microfibers and Microplastics in Wastewater from a Textile Company

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