Microplastics Mitigation in Sewage Sludge through Pyrolysis: The Role of Pyrolysis Temperature

Ni, BJ; Zhu, ZR; Li, WH; Yan, X; Wei, W; Xu, Q; Xia, Z; Dai, X; Sun, J

Microplastics Mitigation in Sewage Sludge through Pyrolysis: The Role of Pyrolysis Temperature

Ni, BJ Zhu, ZR Li, WH Yan, X Wei, W Xu, Q Xia, Z Dai, X Sun, J

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Publisher:: AMER CHEMICAL SOC
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Environmental Science and Technology Letters, 2020, 7, (12), pp. 961-967
Issue Date:: 2020-12-08

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Ni, BJ
dc.contributor.author	Zhu, ZR
dc.contributor.author	Li, WH
dc.contributor.author	Yan, X
dc.contributor.author	Wei, W
dc.contributor.author	Xu, Q
dc.contributor.author	Xia, Z
dc.contributor.author	Dai, X
dc.contributor.author	Sun, J
dc.date.accessioned	2021-03-03T22:08:39Z
dc.date.available	2021-03-03T22:08:39Z
dc.date.issued	2020-12-08
dc.identifier.citation	Environmental Science and Technology Letters, 2020, 7, (12), pp. 961-967
dc.identifier.issn	2328-8930
dc.identifier.issn	2328-8930
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/146730
dc.description.abstract	© 2020 American Chemical Society. All rights reserved. Sewage sludge is an important source of introducing microplastics into the environment, and thus, effective mitigation of microplastics in the sludge is in urgent need. Herein, the effect of pyrolysis on microplastics reduction in sewage sludge was investigated through a lab-scale study. The micro-Raman analysis showed that the microplastics concentrations in sludge residues decreased significantly from 550.8 to 960.9 particles/g to 1.4-2.3 particles/g with the pyrolysis temperature increasing to 500 °C, and no tiny (10-50 μm) microplastics remained. Polyethylene and polypropylene, the two most abundant microplastics in sewage sludge, were entirely degraded when the pyrolysis temperature reached 450 °C. However, during the pyrolysis process, new plastic polymers could be produced through the reaction between original microplastics with organics in sludge, and heavy metals in sludge can also be combined. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy analysis of spiked microplastics showed that incomplete pyrolysis at low temperatures could result in rough surface morphology of microplastics, making it more readily to adsorb contaminants. Overall, the results of this study provide the first insight into the effectiveness of microplastics control in sewage sludge through pyrolysis, but to avoid potential environmental risks induced by incomplete pyrolysis, a pyrolysis temperature of 450 °C should be reached at least.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	AMER CHEMICAL SOC
dc.relation.ispartof	Environmental Science and Technology Letters
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00740
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	0502 Environmental Science and Management, 0907 Environmental Engineering, 1002 Environmental Biotechnology
dc.title	Microplastics Mitigation in Sewage Sludge through Pyrolysis: The Role of Pyrolysis Temperature
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	7
utslib.for	0502 Environmental Science and Management
utslib.for	0907 Environmental Engineering
utslib.for	1002 Environmental Biotechnology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CTWW - Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater Treatment
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2021-03-03T22:08:35Z
pubs.issue	12
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	7
utslib.citation.issue	12

Abstract:

© 2020 American Chemical Society. All rights reserved. Sewage sludge is an important source of introducing microplastics into the environment, and thus, effective mitigation of microplastics in the sludge is in urgent need. Herein, the effect of pyrolysis on microplastics reduction in sewage sludge was investigated through a lab-scale study. The micro-Raman analysis showed that the microplastics concentrations in sludge residues decreased significantly from 550.8 to 960.9 particles/g to 1.4-2.3 particles/g with the pyrolysis temperature increasing to 500 °C, and no tiny (10-50 μm) microplastics remained. Polyethylene and polypropylene, the two most abundant microplastics in sewage sludge, were entirely degraded when the pyrolysis temperature reached 450 °C. However, during the pyrolysis process, new plastic polymers could be produced through the reaction between original microplastics with organics in sludge, and heavy metals in sludge can also be combined. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy analysis of spiked microplastics showed that incomplete pyrolysis at low temperatures could result in rough surface morphology of microplastics, making it more readily to adsorb contaminants. Overall, the results of this study provide the first insight into the effectiveness of microplastics control in sewage sludge through pyrolysis, but to avoid potential environmental risks induced by incomplete pyrolysis, a pyrolysis temperature of 450 °C should be reached at least.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/146730