Phthalate contamination in aquatic environment: A critical review of the process factors that influence their removal in conventional and advanced wastewater treatment

Abstract

ABSTRACTPhthalates are dialkyl or alkyl aryl ester derivatives of phthalic acid and environmental endocrine-disrupting compounds. For their wide usage in plastic manufacturing and personnel care products as well as the potential to leach out from products, phthalates have been worldwide detected in aquatic environment. Phthalate-laden treated wastewater is among the main source of their environmental contamination. The authors provide a critical review of contamination level of phthalates in the aquatic environment including surface, ground and drinking water. The contamination level of phthalates is highest in wastewater followed by surface water, groundwater, and drinking water. A main source of phthalate contamination in aquatic sources is phthalate-laden wastewater treatment effluents. Therefore, process factors influencing their removal in conventional and advance oxidation processes (AOPs) of wastewater treatment are summarized in the review. Better removal of phthalates in conventional wastewater treatment is favored by enhanced solid separation, sludge retention time (15 days), hydraulic retention time (11 days), and a combination of redox environments. In AOPs, presence of organic matter, process coupling with adsorbents, and pH may influence the removal of phthalates. Overall this review can provide a collective background to conceive the extent of phthalate contamination in aquatic environment and recognize factors that may improve removal of phthalates and minimization of their release into the environment.