Microplastic Removal from Surface Water through Coagulation-Flocculation-Filtration Process
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Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering(MPE), Islamic University of Technology(IUT), Board Bazar, Gazipur-1704, Bangladesh
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs), defined as plastic particles ranging from 1 µm to 5 mm in size, have
emerged as a significant environmental pollutant in recent years. These particles pose serious
risks to aquatic ecosystems and potentially to human health. Wastewater treatment systems face
growing challenges in effectively removing microplastics, with inconsistent removal rates
reported across various treatment facilities. There is currently limited guidance on how to
optimize coagulation-to-filtration processes, including which operational factors most influence
removal efficiency. To address this, a treatment sequence consisting of coagulation, flocculation,
and filtration was developed and tested to evaluate the effectiveness of different coagulants. The
study compared the performance of ferric chloride, polyaluminum chloride (PAC), ferrous
sulfate, and alum. Chloride-based coagulants, particularly PAC, showed the highest effectiveness.
PAC achieved an average removal efficiency of 45.26% (±24.64) for smaller microplastic
particles, with a maximum of 84%, and 61.24% (±26.35) for larger particles, with a maximum of
88%. The study identified pH level and coagulant dosage as the most critical factors influencing
removal success. The findings suggest that combining PAC-based coagulation with precise
control of pH and dosing, followed by treatment through biochar and slow sand filtration (where
applicable), can result in near-complete microplastic removal. This approach offers practical and
scalable solutions, especially for policy implementation and plant upgrades in resource-limited
areas. For two distinct MP sizes, this study went one step further and passed the PAC treated
water separately through a slow sand filter and biochar. In both sizes (0-0.3 mm and 0.3-1.18
mm), biochar outperforms slow sand filters in terms of removal efficiency.
Description
Supervised by
Dr. Md. Rezaul Karim,
Professor,
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
Islamic University of Technology (IUT)
Board Bazar, Gazipur, Bangladesh
This thesis is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2025
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