Investigating the impact of PVC microplastics on membrane fouling behavior in MBR for enhanced wastewater treatment efficiency

1/m). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) micro images confirmed the presence of fewer fouling agents on the fouling layer of the MPs-MBR. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy analyses confirmed the lower intensity of proteins/carbohydrates functional groups in the cake layer of MPs-MBR, and no functional groups related to PVC-MPs were detected in the effluent from the MPs-MBR. Overall, it can be concluded that MPs were effectively retained by the membrane without adverse effect on membrane fouling behaviour.