UC Irvine

Microplastics are inevitable by-products of all plastic uses. Given their size (less than 5 μm in diameter), microplastics are evasive to traditional removal methods and can accumulate in waterways and the environment. Microplastics have been shown to accumulate in wastewater reclamation facilities (WWRFs), and California’s new microplastic policies may require monitoring of these Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs). Mini-hydrocyclones have been proven to be an effective and energy-efficient method for the removal of microplastics from water. This thesis further studies the potential for this technology to be used in a stormwater context and potential large-scale application. Various mini-hydrocyclone models were used to observe the removal efficiency of microplastics with differing characteristics. Microplastic aging was also considered to further simulate practical applications. Overall, mini-hydrocyclones effectively removed microplastics with minimal energy demand and there was no statistical difference between the removal of new and aged microplastics. Removal efficiency was also increased for the tested stormwater matrix, which is promising for practical applications.