# Notes on Common Misconceptions in Microplastics Removal from Water
## 4 Conclusions  
Microplastic particles and methods of their removal from water are a challenging issue that will have to be solved in the near future. It has been shown that methods on removal of microplastics involve both separation and degradation. This communication summarized the most common published methods of microplastics removal and it assessed their applicability.  
Coagulation/flocculation provide promising results regarding microplastics removal from water. It has been shown the method is capable to remove particles with dimensions of 1 \(\upmu\)m and higher and can be applied directly in WWTPs, which is their real advantage.  
Degradation is a process that may lead to complete removal of microplastics from water via total decomposition. Photochemical, photocatalytic and ozone degradations were discussed. These methods trigger changes in the mechanical/chemical properties of microparticles that may ease their degradation. The size of treated particles does not seem to be limited--the reported removed dimensions were even below 1 \(\upmu\)m. The most important drawback is the potential increase in treated effluent toxicity during the degradation process, as the surface can contain adsorbed contaminants of emerging concern that can be released from the surface during the degradation process.  
Separation methods, such as density separations or various types of flotation, often require the addition of other chemicals to the process. The reported treated size was limited to 50 \(\upmu\)m and higher.  
The advantage of filtration is its diversity, as many types of filtrations may be applied (sand filtration, biochar/activated carbon filtration, or membrane filtration). This method is also standardly applied directly in WWTPs. It seems that current versions of filters would not require special modification for microplastics removal. The main disadvantage of membrane filtration is its fast fouling with particles of nm dimensions.  
Conceptualization, [PERSON] ([PERSON]) and K.S.; literature investigation, [PERSON] ([PERSON]), K.S.; resources, [PERSON] ([PERSON]); writing--original draft preparation, [PERSON] ([PERSON]); writing--review and editing, [PERSON] ([PERSON]), M.S.; supervision, [PERSON] ([PERSON]); project administration, M.S. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
The financial support of Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (Project No. SS02030008) and Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic (Project No. CZ02.101/00/00/17_048/0007435) is gratefully acknowledged. Part of the work was provided by the research infrastructure NanoEnviCz (Project No. LM2018124).  
Not applicable.  
**Data Availability Statement**: Presented data can be found in the studies \"[PERSON]; [PERSON]; [PERSON]; [PERSON]; [PERSON] Photochemical dissolution of buoyant microplastics to dissolved organic carbon: Rates and microbial impacts. _J. Hazard. Mater._**2020**, _383_, 121065.\"--Figure 2 and \"[PERSON]; [PERSON]; [PERSON]; [PERSON]; [PERSON]; [PERSON]; [PERSON]; [PERSON] A carbon-14 radiotracer-basedstudy on the phototransformation of polystyrene nanoplastics in water: Versus in air. Environ. Sci. Nano 2019, 6, 2907-2917.\"--Figure 3. Copyright is provided.