Polystyrene microplastics and nanoplastics distinctively affect anaerobic sludge treatment for hydrogen and methane production

Microplastics and nanoplastics generally accumulated in waste activated sludge (WAS) after biological wastewater treatment. Currently, researches mainly focused on how plastics affected a particular sludge treatment method, without the comparison of different sludge systems. Herein, distinct responses of hydrogen-producing and methane-producing sludge systems were comprehensively evaluated with polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) and nanoplastics (PS-NPs) existence. Experimental results showed that PS particles would stimulate inhibition on anaerobic gas production except that PS-MPs were conducive to hydrogen accumulation, which was caused by the enhanced solubilization. Mechanistic investigation demonstrated that severe inhibition of PS-NPs to hydrogen production was derived from the excessively inhibitory hydrolysis despite of improving solubilization. Varying degrees of inhibition to acidification and methanation collectively contributed to reduced methane accumulation with exposure to PS-MPs and PS-NPs. Excessive oxidative stress would be generated in the presence of PS-MPs or PS-NPs, deteriorating microbial activities and richness of species responsible for hydrogen or methane production.