Occurrence and Removal of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Abstract

Since the revelation in the detection of the persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in industrial wastewater in the early 1990s, a notable progress has been achieved on the research and different removal applications or methods of this challenge at hand. This book chapter entails a decent understanding on the occurrence, effects, and amputation of POPs in the water sector in advancement of municipal performances of treating industrial wastewaters and environment at large. This current chapter also presents an overview of research associated to the amputation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from various water bodies, i.e., river sediments, sewage plants, industrial sludges, and wastewater. Also, discussing the relationships with actual pre-treatment and removal rates. Vital characteristics such as the wastewater matrix, location, sources of POPs, materials and modules, operational parameters and problems are presented with a clear focus on removal of these organic pollutant’s different sources (like, textile wastewater). The particular methods to the removal of POPs can be associated with the application of ultrafiltration, nanofiltration and reverse osmosis as advanced treatment stages are considered in correlation with the textile wastewater characteristics and removal efficiencies requirements. This gives significance to the amalgamation of physico-chemical and biological treatment with membrane processes which is likely to represent an efficient solution for the removal of POPs from textile wastewater. However, since membrane fouling and hydrophilicity are apparent in the execution of this process, this chapter also covers the effective strategies like fabrication of membrane with a suitable additive to counterattack these challenges, which are often used in membrane technological research. This chapter also proposes an updated understanding of fouling and improvement of membrane properties.