Assessing the Efficacy of Microplastics Removal during Oxidation Ditch vs.

Membrane Bioreactor Wastewater

Treatment Plants in Kenya
Wambui L.K 1, Madivoli E.S 1, Gachanja A.1,Taipale S.J 2
1 Department of Chemistry, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology P.O Box 62,000 - 00200, Nairobi, Kenya
2 Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä P.O. Box 35,FI-40014 University of Jyväskylä, Finland

ABSTRACT RESULTS
700
(c) 500 polyamide
8% plastic
polyester
Mechanical,
(d)
600
400
waste biological, and 500
300

recycled chemical

Intensity (%)

Intensity (%)
400

200

degradation
300

100
200

0
20%
100

92% −100
plastic
0

Solid waste incinerated −100 −200

waste 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000

22,000 tonnes Landfilled wavenumber (1/cm) wavenumber(1/cm) (1/cm)

Disposed of (a) Nylon (b)

polypropylene

in
3000 600

waterways Plastics
2500 500

≤5mm
2000 400

Previous
studies

Intensity

Intensity
(Microplastic
1500 300

s)
1000 200

500 100

0 0

−500 −100
3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000

Oxidation ditch (OD) WWTP

wavenumber Wavenumber
Microplastics in Figure 1: Different Raman spectra for different Microplastic particles
321 ± 80.92 particles per 25 g sludge from 2
Lake Naivasha • Data analysis was conducted using Thermo Omnic 9/Omnic xi software. By comparing the Raman spectra of particles
sludge, wastewater Kenya Coast to commercial spectral libraries of plastic reference spectra.
Membrane Bioreactor (MB) 0.183 to 0.633
treatment plants 33.3 to 275 • Particles were identified as plastic if the correlation between the sample and reference spectrum met a 60% threshold.
WWTP 556 ± 29.77 particles particles/m².
(WWTP) particles/m³
per 25g sludge Sample No. of particles Particles in 1 g No. of
Particles in 25g particles in the filter

INTRODUCTION
Approx: MB 20 577.36 23.094 20
8%
Plastic waste
recycled
Approx:70% Table 1: Calculation of MP particles in a sample
waste 30
collected 25
Microplastics Abudance

20
Waste collected
within households: 15
unknown levels
10
Solid waste 5
22,000 tonnes; 20%
plastic waste in Kenya 0

Approx: 30% Approx: 92%

uncollected ends up
waste landfilled, Primary
incinerated, or Microplastics Figure 3: Microplastic particle size
Scattered
disposed into Microplastics Types
Plastic Liete A Liete B MB1 MB2 OD 1 OD 2
surface waters waste Average particle size 53 µm
Figure 2: Types of MP particles present in the samples
Secondary • The most common microplastic nylon-12.
microplastics
sedimentation • Most abundant particle Polypropylene.
Leaching fragmentation Membrane
Finland Samples kenya shapes Activity Oxidation Ditch Bioreactor

No of Microplastics 700.97 577.35618

METHODOLOGY
24%
No of microplastics 677.356 409.97
28% 20% 20%

Sludge sample Enzyme Fibre

0%
Fibre
mean 689.163 493.66309
Density Separation 0% film 4% 3% film

Digestion 5%
5%
Fragment
foam
Fragment
foam Standard deviation 16.69761953 118.359903
38%
sphere sphere
50°C 53%
Breakdown Unknown Unknown
variance 278.810498 14009.06663
of complex n 2 2
Hydrogen Peroxide
organic
Physical separation matter
H P-value 0.146
50°C Breakdown of
organic matter
Figure 4: Microplastic Shapes Table 2: t-test results
and reduction Isolate Kenyan Samples: Fragments 53% • Null hypothesis: there is no significant difference
of sludge microplastics Fibers 20% between the efficiency of removal of microplastics
Removal of complexity
particles ˃2mm Protease + Tris HCl 1:5 from the rest of during MB and OD wastewater treatment plants in
the residue Finland Samples: Fragments 38% sludge
Microplastics on the
Breakdown
anodisc filter for Raman Fibers 24%
50°C
• P value> 0.05, P Value (P = 0.146 )
of lipids
organic
Spectroscopy • Null hypothesis was rejected
matter CONCLUSION
Lipase + Tris HCl 1:5

50°C Breakdown • The study found significant quantities of microplastic particles, such as nylon-12,
of plant
debris and
polypropylene, and polyethylene, in sludge samples.
cellulose-rich • These microplastics, retained in wastewater treatment sludge, pose environmental risks
Cellulase + NaOAC 1:4
materials
when applied to farmland, affecting water infiltration, soil health, and potentially entering the
50°C Breakdown Microplastics Identification and Characterization
of starchy food chain.
components • Therefore, it is crucial to reconsider treated sludge use in agriculture and conduct further
Amylase + NaOAC 1:4
research on how to improve wastewater treatment plant technology to remove microplastics
50°C Effective from sludge completely and develop standard microplastics identification methods to help
Oxidation of
residues mitigate the impacts of microplastics in the environment.

Hydrogen Peroxide
References
1. Kosore, C., Ojwang, L., Maghanga, J., Kamau, J., Kimeli, A., Omukoto, J., Ngisiag’e, N., Mwaluma, J., Ong’ada, H., Magori, C., & Ndirui, E. (2018). Occurrence and ingestion of microplastics by zooplankton in
Kenya’s marine environment: first documented evidence. African Journal of Marine Science, 40(3), 225–234.https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2018.1492969

2. Migwi, F. K., Ogunah, J. A., & Kiratu, J. M. (2020). Occurrence and Spatial Distribution of Microplastics in the Surface Waters of Lake Naivasha, Kenya. EnvironmentalToxicology and Chemistry, 39(4), 765–
774. https://doi.org/10.1002/ETC.4677