Ubiquitous microplastics, sources, impacts, and treatment: Importance of cost-effective ceramic membranes for MPs removal

Microplastics (MPs) contamination is one of today's most stern environmental challenges, resulting from enormous tonnes of plastic production. Since MPs are present in all forms, i.e., fragments, fibres, spheres, films, and pellets; they are released into the environment from personal care products, wastewater treatment plants, laundry, etc., even in minute doses of 10 μg/ml. MPs are found in various secretions and fluids of the human body, animals, and plants. Industrial effluents were treated for MPs using conventional methods such as coagulation with flocculation, electrochemical, adsorption, advanced oxidation process, etc. Still, membrane technology is considered the best in treating wastewater, and it is eco-friendly, has low power consumption, and has a tremendous dissolution efficacy of >99%. Ceramic membrane, in particular, offers several benefits, including high-quality thermal and chemical balance, natural stamina, fouling hostility, and sturdiness. These attributes make ceramic membranes more suitable than polymeric membranes for wastewater operation. Thus, the high cost of basic materials and the need for soaring sintering temperatures have made ceramic membranes expensive. As a result, researchers are focusing on developing ceramic membranes from other cost-effective materials to decrease costs. These cost-effective ceramic membranes empower them to retain the benefits of ceramic materials while drastically lowering their manufacturing costs. This review seeks to provide a trailblazing overview of the existence, providence, and effects of MPs in the environment and also different physical, chemical, and biological treatment technologies opted to treat the MPs with emphasis on the importance of cost-effective ceramic membranes for separation of MPs from various media.