Microplastic profile, fate, and degradation pathways: Unraveling removal mechanisms in six full-scale dyeing and printing wastewater treatment plants

Key Points

• Microplastic removal mechanisms are effectively identified in wastewater treatment plants, revealing significant insights.
• The study showcases that six full-scale wastewater treatment plants effectively handle microplastic concentrations up to 200 mg/L.
• Observational analysis across six full-scale dyeing and printing wastewater treatment plants provides detailed degradation pathways.
• Highlighting the importance of understanding removal mechanisms may enable better environmental protection strategies.