| Abstrakt: |
Sludge from five wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Tibet was investigated for microplastic content, microplastic morphology, major pollutant indicators of sludge and physicomechanical indicators of sludge. The results showed that the unique environmental factors of the plateau affected the removal rate of nitrogen and phosphorus, which were poorly removed by Anaerobic-Anoxic-Oxic (A²O) alone. The influent concentration and pollutant removal rates were low, and the pollutant removal rates of the five WWTPs were in line with the Class I-B standard discharge criteria, and the addition of carbon sources could effectively improve the pollutant removal efficiency in the effluent. The low microplastic abundance at the WWTPs may be related to the relatively low population density in the study area. The dry density of sludge was significantly affected by organic matter and microplastics, showing a good positive correlation. Also, the organic matter content showed a significant negative correlation with the mechanical properties of sludge. This study analyzed the sludge indicators of WWTPs at high altitude, carried out regional data analysis for the sludge characteristics in the plateau region, and provided certain theoretical support for the operation and management of WWTPs in the plateau region and the standardized treatment of sludge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
