https://matjournals.net/engineering/index.php/JoWRPS MAT JOURNALS PRIVATE LIMITED en-US Journal of Water Resources and Pollution Studies https://matjournals.net/engineering/index.php/JoWRPS/article/view/3011 <p><em>Microplastic pollution in industrial wastewater has emerged as a significant environmental concern due to the persistence of plastic particles and their potential impacts on ecosystems and human health. Industrial activities such as textile manufacturing, plastic processing, paint and coating production, cosmetics manufacturing, and wastewater treatment operations contribute substantially to the release of microplastics into aquatic environments. These particles exhibit wide variability in size, shape, and polymer composition, which complicates their detection and control. This review critically examines conventional and emerging techniques for the detection and characterization of microplastics in industrial effluents, including microscopic analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, and pyrolysis-GC/MS. The limitations of traditional methods and the advantages of emerging approaches such as hyperspectral imaging, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, and machine-learning-assisted identification are also discussed. In addition, the performance of established and advanced wastewater treatment technologies, including membrane bioreactors, sand filtration, dissolved air flotation, electrocoagulation, and adsorption-based methods, is evaluated. Reported removal efficiencies range from approximately 50 to over 95%, depending on the treatment technology and microplastic characteristics. The review highlights key methodological and regulatory gaps, particularly the lack of standardized sampling protocols and microplastic-specific discharge limits. Overall, the findings emphasize the need for integrated detection strategies, effective treatment combinations, and supportive regulatory frameworks to mitigate microplastic pollution from industrial sources. </em></p> Ritesh G Upadhyay Shreyans R. Mahant Aesha Mehta Akshanysinh R. Magodara Ashishkumar Modi Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Water Resources and Pollution Studies 2026-01-22 2026-01-22 1 11