Membrane technology has emerged as an alternative solution for advanced wastewater treatment because the excellent physical separation roles of membranes allow achieving superior treated water quality. In this collaboration, we aim to perform a joint project on investigating the mitigation of micropollutants/additives, and transport behaviour of microplastic fibres in a decentralized membrane-based wastewater treatment process.

This project (1) provides a new approach to investigate the transport behaviour of microfiber in a GDM process for real wastewater treatment by both in-situ observation via microscope and modelling simulation; and (2) adds advanced knowledge on the interactions of microfibers-micropollutants-membrane and identification method of microfibers in a complex biofilm matrix, which could offer new perspectives on improvement of membrane-based wastewater treatment processes for micropollutant and microplastics mitigation.

This research emphasizes the targets in the UN SGD 6 (6.3: improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials) and 14 (14.1: prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds).