Abatement of Microplastics

TERI, in collaboration with Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, undertook a research project entitled “Abatement of Microplastics and Associated Pollution Using Biodegradation and Nanomaterials”, funded by the Department of Biotechnology. The project commenced on 31 January 2024 and was completed on 30 September 2025.

The major objectives of this joint project were to screen and optimize biological processes for the remediation of co-contaminants using metal- and organic-pollutant-remediating marine microbes. The project also aimed to evaluate the occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in wastewater and investigate their biodegradation potential in full-scale anaerobic digesters (ADs) treating wastewater.

Under this collaborative study, TERI and IIT Delhi investigated the occurrence of microplastics in wastewater treatment plants, the interaction of MPs with co-pollutants, the degradation behavior of MPs in anaerobic digesters, and the remediation of MP-associated contaminants. The research findings revealed that microplastics were associated with heavy metals and 61 different organic compounds, including hazardous pollutants such as phthalic acid derivatives and isocyanates. MPs were found to adsorb toxic contaminants, including Cd, Mn, and Cr, which were detected at concerning levels. Furthermore, degradation studies conducted in a laboratory-scale anaerobic digester demonstrated only limited degradation rates for the selected microplastics under anaerobic conditions.