The 11th International Conference on Water Resource and Environment (WRE 2025)

Abstract: Microplastics (MPs), defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, have now been detected in virtually every aquatic environment; they are detected from surface water and groundwater to drinking water, raw and treated wastewater, and storm water. Their ubiquity poses urgent challenges for both accurate quantification and effective management. Despite increasing global concern, methodological inconsistencies remain a major barrier to reliable monitoring and risk assessment. Current analytical approaches for MP detection/quantification which generally involve sample pretreatment consisting of density separation, filtration, and analytical quantification based on either spectroscopy (e.g., (-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy ((-FTIR), (-Raman spectroscopy), or gas-chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS), vary widely in recovery efficiency, size detection limits, and polymer identification accuracy. These variations hinder comparability across studies reported by different researchers. Establishing standardized analytical methods and data-driven management strategies is essential to protect water resources from the emerging threat of MP pollution. In this presentation, we discuss advances in MP detection, including automated imaging based on (-FTIR and (-Raman, and pyrolysis-GC/MS alongside ISO/TC 147 and TC 61 initiatives toward harmonized measurement methods. A few managemental strategies for MPs in water resources have been being reported: for examples, source control, improved wastewater treatment, sludge management, and public-policy interventions to reduce primary and secondary MP emissions. Due to the complexity and costs associated with MP quantification, only limited amounts of data are produced. Namely, we need an analytical method which is more routine-analysis friendly; for better evaluation of a managemental approach, a simple, uncostly, and rapid analytical method is required. This presentation introduces a total-organic-carbon based method to rapidly and effectively analyze MPs in water resources.

Biography: Dr. Hyunook Kim is Professor at Environmental Engineering, University of Seoul, Korea, and Director of R&D Center of Core Technologies for Water Treatment. Professor Kim earned his B.S. degree in Environmental Science from Yonsei University, Korea in 1994, and an M.S. degree in Environmental Engineering from Johns Hopkins University in 1997, and a Ph.D. from University of Maryland at College Park in 2000. Before he joined the faculty member at University of Seoul in 2002, he worked as Environmental Engineer for US Dept. of Agriculture, MD, USA. Professor Kim’s research in the area of water pollution control includes a number of projects on process control and operation of water and wastewater treatment plants. Especially he is interested in monitoring and control of contaminants of emerging concern. He has published numerous journal papers and made conference presentations. He has been received a few awards for his academic and research achievements.