Simulation of the Nano-and Microplastic Lifespan in Urban Wastewater Treatment Plants
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
In Person or Zoom Presentation
In-Person
Campus
Daytona Beach
Status
Student
Faculty/Staff Department
Electrical, Computer, Software, and Systems Engineering
Student Year and Major
Ph.D, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
Presentation Description/Abstract
Microplastics are recognized as increasingly problematic contaminants within urban water systems, yet their complete fate throughout the wastewater treatment lifecycle remains difficult to characterize. This study investigates the journey of microplastics through municipal wastewater treatment systems, from influent entry through treatment processes, effluent discharge, and potential environmental pathways, through the use of simulation software. Rather than examining microplastics as an isolated contaminant, the study conceptualizes their movement as part of a dynamic, interconnected system in which treatment processes, material transformations, environmental pathways, and operational conditions influence contaminant fate.
Ecological Network Analysis (ENA) is introduced as a systems-level methodology for mapping and quantifying relationships among microplastic sources, treatment processes, environmental compartments, and potential sinks. Systems engineering lifecycle concepts are incorporated to structure the system from contaminant generation and introduction through processing, transfer, transformation, and disposal. In addition, network-based modeling are explored as tools for representing material flows and identifying critical pathways, feedbacks, bottlenecks, and potential intervention points.
The resulting framework integrates environmental engineering, systems engineering, and ecological network analysis to improve understanding of microplastic fate across the wastewater lifecycle. This approach may support identification of system-level interventions and inform more sustainable wastewater treatment strategies, monitoring approaches, and environmental risk-management decisions.
Keywords
Pollutants, wastewater, infrastructure
Simulation of the Nano-and Microplastic Lifespan in Urban Wastewater Treatment Plants
Microplastics are recognized as increasingly problematic contaminants within urban water systems, yet their complete fate throughout the wastewater treatment lifecycle remains difficult to characterize. This study investigates the journey of microplastics through municipal wastewater treatment systems, from influent entry through treatment processes, effluent discharge, and potential environmental pathways, through the use of simulation software. Rather than examining microplastics as an isolated contaminant, the study conceptualizes their movement as part of a dynamic, interconnected system in which treatment processes, material transformations, environmental pathways, and operational conditions influence contaminant fate.
Ecological Network Analysis (ENA) is introduced as a systems-level methodology for mapping and quantifying relationships among microplastic sources, treatment processes, environmental compartments, and potential sinks. Systems engineering lifecycle concepts are incorporated to structure the system from contaminant generation and introduction through processing, transfer, transformation, and disposal. In addition, network-based modeling are explored as tools for representing material flows and identifying critical pathways, feedbacks, bottlenecks, and potential intervention points.
The resulting framework integrates environmental engineering, systems engineering, and ecological network analysis to improve understanding of microplastic fate across the wastewater lifecycle. This approach may support identification of system-level interventions and inform more sustainable wastewater treatment strategies, monitoring approaches, and environmental risk-management decisions.