Identification and Quantification of Microplastics in Effluents of Wastewater Treatment Plant by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)

In this research, the presence of microplastics was detected through a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis three wastewater treatment plants. One these plants applied only preliminary stage while others up to secondary evaluate their effectiveness. The results showed polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP) and terephthalate (PET), which were classified as fragments, fibers or granules. During evaluation plants, it determined that did not remove more than 58% microplastics, applying with activated sludge achieved microplastic removal effectiveness between 90% 96.9%.