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Analysis of institutional authors

Martín Monerris, MiguelAuthorCabrera, DcAuthorMartin, MAuthorHernández-Cresbo, CCorresponding Author

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October 28, 2024
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Microplastics occurrence and fate in full-scale treatment wetlands

Publicated to:Water Research. 240 120106- - 2023-07-15 240(), DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120106

Authors: Cabrera, Dario Calzadilla; Wang, Qintong; Martin, Miguel; Rajadel, Nuria Oliver; Rousseau, Diederik P L; Hernandez-Cresbo, Carmen

Affiliations

Global Omnium Medioambiente SL - Author
Univ Ghent, Fac Biosci Engn, Dept Green Chem & Technol - Author
Univ Politecn Valencia, Inst Univ Ingn Agua & Medio Ambiente - Author

Abstract

Treatment wetlands (TWs) are an efficient technology for removing microplastics (MPs) from wastewater, according to previous studies. This study investigates the dynamics and fate of MPs in two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) using TWs, one with horizontal subsurface flow (HF) and another with a floating plant system (FS). Special attention is paid to the retention produced in the sludge and the role of macrophyte roots. The abundance of MPs in the influent to the WWTPs was on average 20.3 +/- 0.85 MP/L and 8.4 +/- 1.13 MP/L in HF and FS respectively, while the effluent had 0.58 +/- 0.07 MP/L and 0.17 +/- 0.06 MP/L, thus giving overall efficiencies of 97.42% and 98.13%, respectively. In the HF wetland, sludge samples near the inlet and the outlet were taken, distinguishing between sludge adhered to gravel and sludge attached to roots. In the floating macrophytes, sludge samples from secondary and tertiary treatments were taken. The results indicate that roots play a significant role in MPs retention. In the HF wetland, the complex formed by roots and gravel attached more MPs than gravel alone in the final zone of the wetland. In the FS, roots retained a significant quantity of MPs, both in the secondary and tertiary treatments, thus giving rise to a sludge less concentrated in MPs. This study aims to improve the knowledge of MPs behavior and fate in full-scale TWs, providing valuable information to enhance retention efficiency.

Keywords

Activated sludgeArticleBioremediationConcentration (parameter)Constructed wetlandConstructed wetlandsControlled studyDynamicsEfficiencyEffluentEffluentsEnvironmental fateEnvironmental impactGravelHorizontal subsurface flowMacrophyteMicroplasticMicroplastic pollutionMicroplasticsNature-based solutionNature-based solutionsNonhumanPlant rootPlant systemsPlasticPlastic wastePlasticsPolymerPolymersProceduresRetention timeRootRootsSeaSewageSewage-sludgeSludgeSubsurface flow wetlandsSubsurface runoffTreatment plantsTreatment wetlandsVegetationVegetation coverWaste component removalWaste disposal, fluidWaste water managementWaste water treatment plantWaste water treatment plantsWaste-water treatmentWastewaterWastewater treatmentWastewater treatment plantWater pollutantWater pollutants, chemicalWetlandWetlands

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Water Research due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2023, it was in position 13/358, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Environmental Sciences. Notably, the journal is positioned above the 90th percentile.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 3.34. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 14, 2024)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 1.79 (source consulted: FECYT Feb 2024)
  • Field Citation Ratio (FCR) from Dimensions: 5.6 (source consulted: Dimensions Jul 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-07-04, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 22
  • Scopus: 15
  • Europe PMC: 5

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-07-04:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 104.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 104 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 2.85.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 3 (Altmetric).

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Belgium.

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (Calzadilla Cabrera, Darío) and Last Author (Hernández Crespo, Carmen).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been Hernández Crespo, Carmen.