Removal of Microplastics By Ozone Oxidation from Urban Wastewater Using Taguchi Experimental Design

TOPKAYA E., ARSLAN A., VELİ S., Kuru S., SEZER M.

WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION, cilt.236, sa.9, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 236 Sayı: 9
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s11270-025-08249-8
  • Dergi Adı: WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, ABI/INFORM, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, Aqualine, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), Artic & Antarctic Regions, BIOSIS, Biotechnology Research Abstracts, CAB Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, Compendex, Environment Index, Geobase, Greenfile, Pollution Abstracts, Veterinary Science Database, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Kocaeli Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

In this study, the removal of microplastics (MPs) in secondary treatment effluent by ozone (O3) oxidation was evaluated. The study was carried out with three samples taken from Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) discharge point. MPs between 200-5000 mu m were identified in terms of number, shape, colour and type and then treated by O3 oxidation in batch experiments. Taguchi design method was applied for process optimization. The parameters pH, ozone dose and reaction time were selected as the main factors affecting O3 oxidation. The optimal conditions for MPs removal were pH 7, reaction time 60 min and O3 dose 10 ppm. In the verification experiments carried out under this conditions, an average MP removal efficiency of 83% was obtained. FTIR analyses were performed on raw and treated wastewater. Five different polymer structures, Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP), Polyester (PES), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and Polyurethane (PUR) were determined in raw wastewater. It was determined that these species were converted into low molecular weight organic compounds after ozone treatment. The results of kinetic studies were found to be in accordance with first order reaction kinetics (k = 0.02243 min-1). The cost of MP removal by ozone oxidation at the optimum experimental condition was 0.094 /m3.