[0001] The present invention relates to a process which allows the removal of microplastics present in aqueous streams by means of the immediate formation of microplastic/magnetic iron material aggregates by means of a Venturi device and the subsequent separation of the formed aggregates by applying a magnetic filter
1. A process for separating microplastics from an aqueous matrix, the process comprising: a) providing an aqueous matrix comprising microplastics, b) providing a suspension of magnetic iron material particles in water, c) conducting the aqueous matrix of step a) through a Venturi device and contacting it with the suspension of magnetic material particles in water from step b) in the throat of the Venturi device to form microplastic/magnetic iron material particle aggregates, d) separating the free magnetic iron material particles and the microplastic/magnetic iron material particle aggregates from step c) by means of a magnetic filter. 2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the microplastics are selected from the group consisting of polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE) including high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate (PC) and polyurethanes (PU), and mixtures thereof. 3. The process according to claim 2, wherein the microplastics are selected from the group consisting of polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE) including high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), and a mixture thereof. 4. The process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the average diameter of the microplastics is in the range of 0.1 µm to 500 µm. 5. The process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the aqueous matrix of step a) is provided with a flow rate of 0.01 to 1000 L/s, preferably from 300 to 600 L/h. 6. The process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the magnetic iron material comprises an iron species selected from the group consisting of Fe(II), Fe(III), metallic Fe, and a mixture thereof. 7. The process according to claim 6, wherein the magnetic iron material is magnetite. 8. The process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the average diameter of the magnetic material is comprised between 0.05 µm and 100 µm. 9. The process according to claim 8, wherein the average diameter of the magnetic material is comprised between 0.1 µm and 10 µm. 10. The process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the concentration of magnetic material in the suspension of step b) is from 1 mg/L to 100 g/L. 11. The process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the suspension of step b) is provided with a flow rate of 0.001 to 100 L/s, preferably from 5 to 50 L/h. 12. The process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inlet flow rate of the aqueous matrix in the throat of the Venturi in step c) is from 0.01 to 1000 L/s, preferably from 300 to 600 L/h, and/or the inlet flow rate of the suspension of magnetic particles in water in the throat of the Venturi in step c) is from 0.001 to 100 L/s, preferably from 5 to 50 L/h. 13. The process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the diameter of the throat of the Venturi device represents a reduction of 75% to 99% with respect to the diameter of the pipe. 14. The process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the magnetic filter of step d) is a magnetic filter with bars.