Wastewater microplastic microbiome characterization

The goal of the study was to quantify and characterize microplastics in three critical stages of wastewater treatment, and to analyze bacterial assemblages attached to microplastics to determine if the composition of these assemblages changes during transport through domestic WWTPs. We sampled two activated sludge WWTPs in Illinois that are point sources of microplastics to their receiving streams. For each plant we characterized microplastics and associated bacterial assemblages in raw sewage, effluent water, and sludge.

本研究旨在对污水处理三个关键阶段的微塑料（microplastics）开展定量与表征分析，并探究附着于微塑料表面的细菌群落组成，以明确这些菌群在流经生活污水处理厂（Wastewater Treatment Plant, WWTP）的过程中是否发生变化。本研究选取伊利诺伊州的两座活性污泥法污水处理厂作为采样对象，上述厂区均为其受纳溪流的微塑料点源。针对每座污水处理厂，我们分别对原污水、出水及污泥中的微塑料及其附着的细菌群落开展了表征分析。