Editors: Prof. Ramasamy Subbaiya

Dr. Sivasubramanian Manikandan (2022)

ISBN: 978-93-94174-07-8

R. Sabarish^1,4, M. Prakash¹, N. Karmegam², M. Biruntha³*

¹Research Department of Microbiology, Kanchi Shri Krishna College of Arts and Science, Kanchipuram, 631 551, Tamil Nadu, India ²PG and Research Department of Botany, Government Arts College (Autonomous), Salem - 636 007, Tamil Nadu, India ³Department of Animal Health and Management, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, 630 003, Tamil Nadu, India ⁴Department of Biotechnology, St.Joseph's College (Arts & Science), Kundrathur Main Road, Kovur, Chennai-600128, India

Microplastics formed and released into the environment due to anthropogenic activities lead to adverse impact on living beings. The quantity of microplastics in the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems is directly proportional to the human populace. Physico-chemical and biological degradation process of plastics dumped in various ecosystems form morphologically and chemically different forms of microplastics. These microplastics through food chain reach different trophic levels and pose hazardous consequences to almost all kinds of organisms including human beings. To this effect, there is an urgent global attention required for the microplastics elimination. As of now, several physical, chemical and biological routes of microplastics mitigation strategies have been tried at laboratory and field levels. Filtration, advanced oxidation, electrocoagulation, microbial degradation, and other emerging techniques are found to be effective individually and in combination.

*Corresponding author; e-mail: biruntha6675@gmail.com

Cite this Chapter: Sabarish, R., Prakash, M., Karmegam, N., Biruntha, M., 2022. Microplastics: Existence, Impact, and Advanced Removal Strategies. In: R. Subbaiya and S. Manikandan (Eds.), Emerging Technologies and Advanced Techniques for Waste Treatment and Energy Production. Excellent Publishers, India. pp. 158-166. doi: https://doi.org/10.20546/978-93-94174-07-8_11