Chapter 3 - Oil pollution and municipal wastewater treatment: issues and impact

Abstract

Presently, water sources are highly polluted by anthropogenic resources. Petroleum and crude oil derived products are the major pollutants of soil and water caused by terrestrial and marine spillage. There are numerous pathways by which humans can get back this oil spills that includes by the consumption of polluted underground water or through accumulation in shellfish and fishes. The other major pollutant of freshwater bodies is municipal solid waste. Municipal wastewater can be featured by higher particulate organic and lower organic strength matter content. Both the pollutants have a negative impact on the environment, humans, and marine life. Therefore, researchers all over the world have put efforts into strategies to minimize these pollutants from wastewater and to design new remedial technologies. This review paper summarizes major issues due to the oil and municipal pollutants in wastewater. Their impact on the environment and economical perspective. In addition, a comparative analysis of the conventional and new technologies that are employed for the treatment of these wastewater effluent has been studied. A special focus has been made on bioremediation because of its cost-effectiveness, environmental harmlessness, and relative less expensive technology. The SWOT analysis of the treatment technologies was performed.