Table 3.

Py-GC–MS analysis results of the effluent sampling of the WWTP. Aliquots of the recovered samples from the 100 μm, 50 μm and 10 μm filter were transferred to the platinum filament and fixated with 5 μL of ethanol, containing 1 μg absolute styrene-d₈. The samples were pyrolyzed at 600 °C for 2 s with a split flow of 10 mL min⁻¹ and a 1:10 split. The pyrolysis chamber temperature was set to 200 °C and the injector temperature to 250 °C. PS3 (2,4,6-Triphenyl-1-hexene) was used for identification of PS.

Filter mesh size	Found particle mass in corr. filter (mg)	Aliquot mass from filter (mg)	Identified polymer	Mass PS found in aliquot (mg)	Mass PS per m3 of WWTP effluent (mg)
100 μm	170	0.35	PS	4.30E-04	0.060
50 μm	60	0.37	PS	2.00E-04	0.009
10 μm	8	0.38	PS	3.00E-05	0.003

*A volume of 3500 L was filtered through the 100 μm and 50 μm filters. 200 L were filtered through the 10 μm filter.