The effect of polyethylene microplastics on the disinfection of Escherichia coli by sodium hypochlorite

The effect of polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) on the disinfection of Escherichia coli (E. coli) by sodium hypochlorite was investigated in different pH value, ionic strength, and NOM concentration to illustrate the impact of MPs on the pathogenic bacteria disinfection efficiency in nature water environment. The results showed that PE-MPs tended to agglomerate rather than disperse due to their strong hydrophobicity in water. Within 30 s, about 1.5 log10 of E. coli was adsorbed on the surface of PE-MPs, forming subsequent protection for E. coli. Thus, the presence of PE-MPs reduced the inactivation rate of E. coli. As for the particle-free solutions, the higher solution pH, the presence of natural organic matter (NOM), and the higher concentrations of cations (monovalent Na+ and divalent Ca2+) were confirmed as the major influencing factors decreasing the E. coli disinfection efficiency. However, due to the adsorption and protection of PE-MPs on E. coli, the influences of complex chemistry factors on the inactivation of E. coli were reduced. The inactivation of E. coli in PE-MPs (20 NTU) solution was 1 log10 lower than that in particle-free solution under the same water quality conditions. Therefore, considering the complex water chemistry, the existence of MPs could be a potential challenge for disinfection efficiency in the water treatment plants.