Sewage

Combined Approaches to Predict Microplastic Emissions Within an Urbanized Estuary (Warnow, Southwestern Baltic Sea)

hannes.schritt@ecologic.eu — Wed, 11 Aug 2021 08:37:47 +0000

Combined Approaches to Predict Microplastic Emissions Within an Urbanized Estuary (Warnow, Southwestern Baltic Sea) hannes.schritt… Wed, 08/11/2021 - 10:37

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Beschreibung

Abstract: Microplastic river emissions are known to be one of the major sources for marine microplastic pollution. Especially urbanized estuaries localized at the land-sea interface and subjected to microplastic emissions from various sources exhibit a high microplastic discharge potential to adjacent coasts. To adapt effective measures against microplastic emissions a more detailed knowledge on the importance of various microplastic sources is necessary. As field data is scarce we combined different approaches to assess microplastic emissions into the Warnow estuary, southwestern Baltic Sea. Resulting microplastic emission estimates are based on in-situ measurements for the catchment emissions, whereas for the remaining microplastic sources within the estuary literature data on microplastic abundances, and various parameters were used (e.g. demographical, hydrological, geographical). The evaluation of the different emission scenarios revealed that the majority of microplastic is likely discharged by the Warnow river catchment (49.4%) and the separated city stormwater system (43.1%) into the estuary, followed by combined sewer discharges (6.1%). Wastewater treatment plant emissions exhibit the lowest percentage (1.4%). Our approach to estimate anti-fouling paint particles emissions from leisure and commercial shipping activities was associated with highest uncertainties. However, our results indicate the importance of this source highlighting the necessity for future research on the topic. Based on our assumptions for microplastic retention within the estuary, we estimate a potential annual emission of 152–291 billion microplastics (majority within the size class 10–100 µm) to the Baltic Sea. Considering all uncertainties of the different applied approaches, we could assess the importance of various microplastic sources which can be used by authorities to prioritize and establish emission reduction measures. Additionally, the study provides parameters for microplastic emission estimates that can be transferred from our model system to other urbanized Baltic estuaries.

Joint project

MicroCatch_Balt

DOI

https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2021.616765

Magazine

Front. Environ. Sci.

Year

2021

Type of Result

(scientific) publications (peer-review, essays, book chapters, poster etc.)

Citation

Piehl S, Hauk R, Robbe E, Richter B, Kachholz F, Schilling J, Lenz R, Fischer D, Fischer F, Labrenz M and Schernewski G (2021) Combined Approaches to Predict Microplastic Emissions Within an Urbanized Estuary (Warnow, Southwestern Baltic Sea). Front. Environ. Sci. 9:616765. doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2021.616765

Tags

Sewage

Sewage treatment plant

Laquer

Macroplastics

Publikationstyp

Publikation

Statuspapier Mikroplastik-Analytik

hannes.schritt@ecologic.eu — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 13:22:16 +0000

Analysis of Microplastics - Sampling, preparation and detection methods hannes.schritt… Mon, 06/28/2021 - 15:22

Untertitel

Status Report

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Beschreibung

This status report was prepared within the framework of the cross-cutting topic 1 "Analytics and reference materials" of the research focus. It summarizes the contents of the project discussions and coordination within the cross-cutting issue. The organization of this ongoing process of development or elaboration has been supported by several events.

The status report presents a summary of the physicochemical methods for the analysis of MP used in the research focus "Plastics in the Environment". The present recommendations are based on the current state of knowledge of the analysis of MP and are directed at actors in science as well as potential users in practice.

Scientists from the following collaborative projects of the research focus participated in the preparation of the status report via workshops, contributions and feedback loops: EmiStop, ENSURE, MicBin, MicroCatch_Balt, MikroPlaTaS, PLASTRAT, PLAWES, RAU, REPLAWA, RUSEKU, SubμTrack and TextileMission as well as the two predecessor projects MiWa and BASEMAN.

Further Links

Link to Status Report

Year

2020

Type of Result

discussion papers & status papers

Citation

Braun, Ulrike & Stein, Ulf & Schritt, Hannes & Altmann, Korinna & Bannick, Claus & Becker, Roland & Bitter, Hajo & Bochow, Mathias & Dierkes, Georg & Enders, Kristina & Eslahian, Kyriakos & Fischer, Dieter & Földi, Corinna & Fuchs, Monika & Gerdts, Gunnar & Hagendorf, Christian & Heller, Claudia & Ivleva, Natalia & Jekel, Martin & Kerpen, Jutta & Klaeger, Fraziska & Knoop, Oliver & Labrenz, Matthias & Laforsch, Christian & Obermaier, Nathan & Primpke, Sebastian & Reiber, Jens & Richter, Susanne & Ricking, Mathias & Scholz-Böttcher, Barbara & Stock, Friederike & Wagner, Stephan & Wendt-Potthoff, Katrin & Zumbülte, Nicole (2021): Analysis of Microplastics - Sampling, preparation and detection methods. Status Report within the framework program Plastics in the Environment.

Tags

Raman microspectroscopy

Publikationstyp

Factsheet 11: Mikroplastik in der Abwasserbehandlung - Methodenentwicklung für Probenahme und Analyse zur Erfassung der Eintragsmengen in Oberflächengewässer

janna.vakili@ecologic.eu — Thu, 06 May 2021 12:46:43 +0000

Factsheet 11: Microplastics in wastewater treatment - Development of sampling and analysis methods for detection of input quantities into surface waters janna.vakili@e… Thu, 05/06/2021 - 14:46

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Photo: © Institute of Hydroscience, University of the Federal Armed Forces Munich

Beschreibung

It is not easy to determine how much microplastic is contained in wastewater and sewage sludge. In addition to plastic, countless other particles and substances are present. To reliably determine the concentration of microplastic particles, complex procedures for sampling as well as for removal of foreign substances and analysis of the microplastic particles are required.

The PLASTRAT research team has set itself the task of developing methods for these procedures and thus advancing the detection of inputs to surface waters. In this context, they provide important insights into the relevance of wastewater treatment plants as a retention option for plastic particles.

The project focuses on the quantification and technical reduction potential of plastic emissions in the field of urban water management, including sewage sludge treatment. The results on method development have been summarized in the 11th fact sheet of the research focus. The fact sheet is available for PDF download here.

Attachments

Factsheet 11 of the BMBF Research Focus Plastics in the Environment.

Joint project

PLASTRAT

Year

2021

Author

Authors

Natalie Wick

Steffen Krause

Christian Schaum

Franziska Fischer

Dieter Fischer

Franziska Klaeger

Juliana Ivar do Sul

Matthias Labrenz

Type of Result

factsheets

Citation

Wick, Natalie; Krause, Steffen; Schaum, Christian; Fischer, Franziska; Fischer, Dieter; Klaeger, Franziska; Ivar do Sul, Juliana; Labrenz, Matthias (2020): Microplastics in wastewater treatment: Development of sampling and analysis methods for detection of input quantities into surface waters. Fact sheet 11 of the BMBF research focus „Plastics in the Environment“.

Publikationstyp

Ergebnis

Factsheet 5.1: Mikroplastik aus industriellem Abwasser entfernen - Verfahrensverbesserungen durch Flockungsmittel

janna.vakili@ecologic.eu — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 10:02:22 +0000

Factsheet 5.1: Removing microplastics from industrial wastewater - Process improvements through the use of flocculants janna.vakili@e… Tue, 04/27/2021 - 12:02

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Beschreibung

Microplastics can enter our wastewater along the entire value chain. Removal options exist primarily in wastewater treatment plants, here in the form of filtration, flotation and sedimentation processes. The removal performance of wastewater treatment plants determines how much microplastic is discharged into the environment.

Building on this, Factsheet 5.1 addresses the question of how current processes can be further improved. In this context, the researchers paid particular attention to the influence of flocculants on separation performance. The joint project EmiStop conducted over 1,000 flocculation tests with 9 flocculant combinations on 17 types of plastics. The results show that flocculants can increase process efficiency up to 99.9% removal efficiency.

In the EmiStop research project, industrial plastic emissions were qualitatively and quantitatively identified using innovative detection methods, and technologies to prevent environmental input via the wastewater pathway were evaluated and optimized.

The factsheet 5.1 is available for PDF download here.

Attachments

Factsheet 7.2 of the BMBF Research Focus Plastics in the Environment.

Joint project

EmiStop

Year

2021

Author

Authors

Mark Masch

Eva Bitter

Type of Result

factsheets

Citation

Masch, Mark; Bitter, Eva (2021): Removing microplastics from industrial wastewater: Process improvements through the use of flocculants. Fact sheet 5.1 of the BMBF research focus "Plastics in the Environment“.

Tags

Sewage treatment plant

Publikationstyp

Validierung von Probenvorbereitungsmethoden für die mikroplastische Analyse in Abwassermatrices

hannes.schritt@ecologic.eu — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 12:25:08 +0000

Validation of Sample Preparation Methods for Microplastic Analysis in Wastewater Matrices hannes.schritt… Tue, 09/22/2020 - 14:25

Untertitel

Reproducibility and Standardization

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Beschreibung

There is a growing interest in monitoring microplastics in the environment, corresponding to increased public concerns regarding their potential adverse effects on ecosystems. Monitoring microplastics in the environment is difficult due to the complex matrices that can prevent reliable analysis if samples are not properly prepared first. Unfortunately, sample preparation methods are not yet standardized, and the various efforts to validate them overlook key aspects. The goal of this study was to develop a sample preparation method for wastewater samples, which removes natural organic matter without altering the properties of microplastics. Three protocols, based on KOH, H2O2, and Fenton reactions, were chosen out of ten protocols after a literature review and pre-experiments. In order to investigate the effects of these reagents on seven polymers (PS, PE, PET, PP, PA, PVC, and PLA), this study employed µFTIR, laser diffraction-based particle size analysis, as well as TD-Pyr-GC/MS. Furthermore, the study discussed issues and inconsistencies with the Fenton reactions reported in the literature in previous validation efforts. The findings of this study suggest that both H2O2 and Fenton reactions are most effective in terms of organic matter removal from microplastic samples while not affecting the tested polymers, whereas KOH dissolved most PLA and PET particles

Further Links

Link zum Artikel

Homepage SubμTrack

Homepage des Kooperationspartner der Publikation: MiPAq

Joint project

SubμTrack

DOI

https://doi.org/10.3390/w12092445

Magazine

Water 12(9)

Year

2020

Author

Authors

Mohammed S. M. Al-Azzawi

Simone Kefer

Jana Weißer

Julia Reichel

Christoph Schwaller

Karl Glas

Oliver Knoop

Jörg E. Drewes

Type of Result

(scientific) publications (peer-review, essays, book chapters, poster etc.)

Citation

Al-Azzawi et al. 2020 - Validation of Sample Preparation Methods for Microplastic Analysis in Wastewater Matrices—Reproducibility and Standardization; Water 2020, 12(9), 2445; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12092445 (OpenAccess)

Tags

Publikationstyp

Verschoben: 12. MICROPOL & ECOHAZARD Konferenz 2022

janna.vakili@ecologic.eu — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 10:47:20 +0000

Postponed: 12th MICROPOL & ECOHAZARD Conference 2022 janna.vakili@e… Tue, 06/30/2020 - 12:47

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Beschreibung

The 12th Micropol & Ecohazard Conference will take place from 6 to 10 June 2022 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. It is part of a series of IWA conferences which, as an international discussion forum, will address the state of scientific and technical developments regarding emerging pollutant emissions, treatments and effects.

A detailed overview of the topics can be found on the event's website.

Location

Santiago de Compostela, Spanien

Organiser

International Water Association (IWA)

Universidade de Santiago de Compostela

Date

06 - 10 June 2022

06. - 10. Juni 2022

Further Links

Website of the event

Image Gallery

Tags

minimization strategies

Surface water

Sewage

Microplastics

Life Cycle Assessment

Date sort

Mon, 06/06/2022 - 12:00

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Aus

Mikroplastik im Abwasser - ein Problem?

janna.vakili@ecologic.eu — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 13:06:47 +0000

Canceled: Microplastics in wastewater - a problem? janna.vakili@e… Thu, 02/20/2020 - 14:06

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Beschreibung

The event was canceled due to Covid-19.

One pathway of microplastics entering the aquatic environment is wastewater. Hence urban water management has become the focus of environmental policy discussions in Germany. This DWA seminar is intended to provide a technical overview of the current state of affairs and currently discussed approaches to microplastics in the field of urban water management. It is aimed specifically at practitioners and experts (e.g. sewage plant operators, engineering offices, supervisory authorities).

Further information on current events of the DWA can be found on the DWA events calendar (in German).

Location

Kassel, Germany

Organiser

German Association for Water Management, Wastewater and Waste (DWA)

Date

01 October 2020

Further Links

DWA events calendar (in German)

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Date sort

Thu, 10/01/2020 - 12:00

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Aus

Wasser 2021 - Jahrestagung der Wasserchemischen Gesellschaft

janna.vakili@ecologic.eu — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 12:55:42 +0000

"Wasser 2021" - Annual Meeting of the Water Chemical Society janna.vakili@e… Wed, 11/13/2019 - 13:55

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Beschreibung

"Wasser 2021" is the central conference of the Water Chemical Society on all topics of water quality with the latest results on pollution of waste water, treatment, drinking water/analytics, marine chemistry, water bodies/trace substances, sediments, colloids, water chemistry and industry.

Experts from the field of water chemistry as well as experts from other disciplines who have made water their profession meet to exchange experiences and ideas. Personal encounter and discussion of current technical problems are paramount during this conference.

Please find further information on the event's website [in German].

Location

Online

Organiser

Water Chemistry Society

Date

10 - 12 May 2021

10. - 12. Mai 2021

Further Links

Website of the event (in German)

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Tags

Decomposition products

Analytics

Date sort

Mon, 05/10/2021 - 12:00

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Aus

The 6th International Conference on Water Resource and Environment (Online Event)

janna.vakili@ecologic.eu — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 13:37:22 +0000

The 6th International Conference on Water Resource and Environment (Online Event) janna.vakili@e… Fri, 11/08/2019 - 14:37

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Beschreibung

The International Conference on Water Resource and Environment (WRE) is an annually-held conference. It aims to provide a platform for professionals and specialists to present their latest findings, opinions and views, to provide a forum to discuss the latest thinking by some of the leading scholars and experts of the world, to publish the best papers presented and to advance the state of knowledge of water science in the world.

The online WRE 2020 consists of two parts:

publication of papers in the conference proceeding/journals and
presentation of papers by a pre-recorded video or ppt/pdf presentation with audio.

Important dates:
30 November 2019: First Round of Submission Deadline

Registration is possible via the event's website.

Location

Online

Organiser

Tokyo University of Agriculture, Japan

I-Shou University

Date

23 - 26 August 2020

23. - 26. August 2020

Further Links

Website of the event

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Tags

Environmental sustainability

Date sort

Sun, 08/23/2020 - 12:00

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5th International Conference on Ecotechnologies for Wastewater Treatment “Impacting the environment with innovation in wastewater treatment”

janna.vakili@ecologic.eu — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 12:29:50 +0000

5th International Conference on Ecotechnologies for Wastewater Treatment “Impacting the environment with innovation in wastewater treatment” janna.vakili@e… Fri, 11/08/2019 - 13:29

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Beschreibung

The 5th International Conference on Ecotechnologies for Wastewater Treatment virtually takes place in June 2021 and is organized by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of the Politecnico di Milano. The focus: Innovation in energy and resource recovery as key to a new paradigm in wastewater treatment and management and as potential for reuse of water resources.

Find more information on the website of the event.

Location

Online

Organiser

Polytechnic Mailand

Date

21 - 25 June 2021

21. - 25. Juni 2021

Further Links

Website of the event

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