A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Developing Monitoring Strategies for Quantifying and Examining the Fate of Microplastic Emissions in Urban Wastewater Drainage Systems
The development of synthetic polymers in the early 20th century marked a revolution in society, leading to broad use in everyday items and industrial applications. The "plastic era" began post-World War II, with global production continuously and rapidly increasing. Research on marine plastic litter began in the 1960s and was increasingly linked to the entry of macroplastic from terrestrial sources. The term "microplastic" (MP) was coined in 2004. It defines water-insoluble plastics with a size of 1–1,000 micrometers (μm), excluding rubber. Microplastics are categorized into primary (manufactured in micro size) and secondary (macroplastic broken down through chemical or mechanical processes) and enter the environment through various pathways, with urban areas playing a significant role. The type of drainage systems (combined or separate) in urban areas, as well as weather conditions, are crucial for the entry and transport of microplastics into the environment. Tracking waterborne MP in urban areas is complex due to the diversity of sources, the different material compositions of MPs, and the low concentrations. Previous studies thus mostly focused on point sources from wastewater treatment plants. Recent studies suggest that entries from combined sewer overflows and separate district outfalls are of considerable relevance for the entry of MP from the sewer system into the environment. To assess the significance of each entry path, the development of sampling and monitoring strategies is required, and their standardization is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of the occurrence and relevance of MP in urban drainage systems. This work aimed to develop robust monitoring strategies to estimate MP emissions from urban wastewater streams and to address the lack of standardized methods for monitoring MP. Furthermore, a guideline for the sampling and preparation of microplastics was developed, and the investigations were expanded beyond treatment plants to the sources and entry paths in their catchment areas. ...
Developing Monitoring Strategies for Quantifying and Examining the Fate of Microplastic Emissions in Urban Wastewater Drainage Systems
The development of synthetic polymers in the early 20th century marked a revolution in society, leading to broad use in everyday items and industrial applications. The "plastic era" began post-World War II, with global production continuously and rapidly increasing. Research on marine plastic litter began in the 1960s and was increasingly linked to the entry of macroplastic from terrestrial sources. The term "microplastic" (MP) was coined in 2004. It defines water-insoluble plastics with a size of 1–1,000 micrometers (μm), excluding rubber. Microplastics are categorized into primary (manufactured in micro size) and secondary (macroplastic broken down through chemical or mechanical processes) and enter the environment through various pathways, with urban areas playing a significant role. The type of drainage systems (combined or separate) in urban areas, as well as weather conditions, are crucial for the entry and transport of microplastics into the environment. Tracking waterborne MP in urban areas is complex due to the diversity of sources, the different material compositions of MPs, and the low concentrations. Previous studies thus mostly focused on point sources from wastewater treatment plants. Recent studies suggest that entries from combined sewer overflows and separate district outfalls are of considerable relevance for the entry of MP from the sewer system into the environment. To assess the significance of each entry path, the development of sampling and monitoring strategies is required, and their standardization is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of the occurrence and relevance of MP in urban drainage systems. This work aimed to develop robust monitoring strategies to estimate MP emissions from urban wastewater streams and to address the lack of standardized methods for monitoring MP. Furthermore, a guideline for the sampling and preparation of microplastics was developed, and the investigations were expanded beyond treatment plants to the sources and entry paths in their catchment areas. ...
Developing Monitoring Strategies for Quantifying and Examining the Fate of Microplastic Emissions in Urban Wastewater Drainage Systems
Abusafia, Attaallah Yousef Attaallah (author)
2024-01-01
Theses
Electronic Resource
English
Quantifying effects of interacting optimisation measures in urban drainage systems
| British Library Online Contents | 2009
Quantifying effects of interacting optimisation measures in urban drainage systems
| Online Contents | 2009