EmiStop Research Paper: Flocculants for Removal of Microplastics from Industrial Wastewater

Microplastic particles can enter natural bodies of water via wastewater streams. These environmentally hazardous plastic particles are found in more and more bodies of water as well as in food and aquatic life. As part of the research project EmiStop, flocculants for the removal of microplastics from industrial wastewater have been developed. The flocculation of polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polyamide was investigated for nine different combinations of inorganic and organic coagulants and flocculants both in tap water and in industrial wastewater matrices.