Conventional Wastewater Treatment Research Articles

Monitoring of organic micropollutant behavior and fate in a full-scale conventional biological urban wastewater treatment plant

Monitoring of organic micropollutant behavior and fate in a full-scale conventional biological urban wastewater treatment plant

A Dataset of Distribution and Characterization of Underground Wastewater Treatment Plants in China.

Underground wastewater treatment plants (U-WWTPs) have emerged as a novel paradigm for urban wastewater pollutants management, offering benefits such as alleviating the Not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) effect and utilizing land resources efficiently. China stands at the forefront, witnessing swift advancements in U-WWTP technology and deployment. However, the absence of a thorough understanding of their geographical distribution and operational characteristics could lead to misaligned planning and construction, resulting in inefficient resource allocation and treatment capacities for urban wastewater treatment. This dataset provides an up-to-date overview of the spatial distribution, process selection, and discharge standards for all U-WWTPs in China (with atotal number of 201) constructed since 1995. To enhance comparative analysis, the dataset has been supplemented with information on conventional aboveground wastewater treatment plants (A-WWTPs), comprising a total of 2464 records, which enriches a more comprehensive evaluation of different wastewater treatment approaches. Utilizing this dataset can provide essential data support for the strategic management of urban wastewater systems and serve as a valuable reference for the paradigmatic renovation of existing wastewater treatment plants.

Ozonation degradation of wastewater using rotational hydrodynamic cavitation reactor with a conical rotor

ABSTRACT Water pollution caused by an abusive discharge of dye-containing wastewater leads to serious ecological risks. Conventional wastewater treatment methods have shortcomings of incomplete degradation, long-time treatment and secondary pollution. For the first time, a rotational hydrodynamic cavitation reactor (RHCR) equipped with a conical rotor has been designed to enhance the ozonation process for effective degradation of pollutants. The effects of rotational speed, discharge voltage, gas flow rate, liquid flow rate and initial pH on methylene blue (MB) degradation were deeply investigated. The optimised conditions were initial pH = 9, rotational speed = 1800 rpm, discharge voltage = 9.3 kV, gas flow rate = 60 mL/min and liquid flow rate = 80 mL/min. With the integration of ozonation and cavitation in RHCR, the MB degradation efficiency reached 95.2%, which was 15.6% higher than that of the individual ozonation method. The degradation process was proven to track the first-order kinetic model, with the reaction rate and synergy index were 0.232 min−1 and 1.78, respectively. Through the quenching experiments, it can be confirmed that the contribution proportion of hydroxyl radical during degradation was increased by 8.7% due to the enhancement of cavitation. A required energy consumption of 74.7 kWh/order/m3 and a total expense of 8.7 $/m3 were calculated. The energy consumption of the RHCR was approximately 80% lower than that of the recently reported degradation system combining ozonation and cavitation, with total expense reduced by 52%. The findings of this work provide a new water treatment method and offered theoretical references for the design of RHCR.

Circular hybrid membrane process treating high-salinity ammonium-rich pharmaceutical wastewater

Ammonia-rich saline wastewater is a common byproduct of the pharmaceutical industry. Hollow fiber membrane contactors (HFMCs) show potential for NH3 recovery, enabling valuable product recycling. Our previous work indicated that excessive NaOH usage and increased salinity of the treated effluent are major setbacks when employing HFMCs for NH3 recovery from pharma wastewater. Therefore, finding alternative approaches to reduce chemical use and salinity is vital. This study demonstrates the integration of bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BMED) with HFMC for NH3 recovery, chemical recycling, and salinity reduction. This novel, highly circular concept was tested using real pharmaceutical wastewater. We varied the volume ratios between compartments to assess the BMED flexibility in attaining different treatment goals. BMED achieved over 90% salinity reduction and produced concentrated base and acid in all volume ratios tested, saving 70% of the NaOH required for pH increase before the HFMC step. The HFMC achieved over 98% NH3 recovery in two sets of five consecutive cycles, using either a BMED-generated base or NaOH. A preliminary economic analysis revealed a 47% reduction and 86% increase in expenses on chemicals and energy, respectively, compared to HFMC without BMED. Nevertheless, since the largest operating expense was the purchase of chemicals, integrating the BMED step reduced the overall operating expenses of the treatment by 33% (from $3.76 to $2.54 per kg N). The treated effluent’s quality allows discharge to conventional wastewater treatment plants, resulting in economic and environmental benefits. This work highlights the importance of innovative separation processes in advancing toward cleaner drug manufacturing.

Investigation of pharmaceutical bioaccumulation in Daphnia sp. living in a wastewater treatment plant

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most widely used pharmaceuticals. Their presence in natural waters is due to the low removal efficiency in conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Interestingly, certain zooplankton species can survive the mixture of pollution and abnormal water conditions in WWTPs. In our study, for the first time, we tested the in-situ bioaccumulation of NSAIDs and their metabolites in Daphnia pulex, which were obtained in high numbers in one WWTP during the summer. It was found that diclofenac (DCF) and 4-hydroxy DCF were present in the studied clarifiers and ponds. Among these chemicals, only DCF was detected in daphnia. The bioaccumulation factor of DCF in daphnia was below 36 L kg−1ww and was lower than those obtained under experimental conditions for Daphnia magna. The tested daphnia adapted to chronic exposure to mixtures of drugs in μg L−1 level and could be implemented in biobased WWTPs. According to our data, there is a need to supplement the risk assessment of anthropogenic pollutants with in-situ cases to demonstrate the adaptation possibilities of wild-living organisms.

Fabrication and performance evaluation of polyethersulfone membranes with varying compositions of polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyethylene glycol for textile wastewater treatment using MBR

Various industries polluting the water bodies by discharging untreated wastewater directly into the environment and conventional wastewater treatments are often insufficient for effectively treating the pollutants. However, membrane bioreactors (MBRs) offer a promising solution for wastewater treatment where membrane serving as the heart of the system. In this study, polyethersulfone (PES) was used as the membrane material and hydrophilicity of the membranes were tuned up by mixing with hydrophilic additives such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and the membranes have shown promising results in treating wastewater, particularly in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and color removal. For example, PES-PEG membrane demonstrated COD, BOD, and color removal of 96 %, 94 %, and 92 %, respectively while those were 95 %, 94 %, and 92 %, respectively for PES-based commercial membrane. Although the performances of fabricated membranes were comparable to that of commercial membrane in COD, BOD, and color removal efficiencies, there is room for improvement in permeate yields. Notably, the average permeate efficiency for MBR modules produced with PES-3PEG and PES-5PVP membranes was recorded as 47 % (18 L/m2h) and 13 % (5 L/m2h) respectively of the commercial membrane (38 L/m2h). Despite the variance in permeate yields, the fabricated membranes also showcased significant efficacy in removing microorganisms, a crucial aspect of wastewater treatment. Their performance in this regard proved highly comparable to that of the commercial membrane, emphasizing the potential of these fabricated membranes in enhancing the wastewater treatment.

Fabricating nepheline syenite-chitosan composite for heavy metals uptake: Mechanism insight via statistical physics modeling

Given the substantial costs associated with conventional wastewater treatment methods, researchers are increasingly exploring mineral compounds for their cost-effectiveness, widespread availability, and efficiency. In this study, nepheline syenite, an alkaline igneous rock, was selected among these compounds. The research investigates the single and binary adsorption of heavy metals (Ni(II) and Cd(II)) from synthetic and electroplating industrial effluents using a nepheline syenite-chitosan composite (NS-CS). The physical and chemical properties of the adsorbents were characterized using XRD, XRF, FT-IR, BET, and SEM analyses. The study examined the effects of solution acidity, contact time, initial concentration, and adsorbent dosage to determine the optimal conditions for the uptake of Ni(II) and Cd(II). The isothermal data were best described by the Langmuir isotherm model, with NS-CS showing adsorption capacities of up to 40.48 mg/g for Ni(II) and 41.79 mg/g for Cd(II). Additionally, the competitive adsorption of nickel and cadmium in the binary system was more accurately described by the modified Freundlich equation. Kinetic data were best fitted by the pseudo-second-order model. Thermodynamic analysis indicated that the adsorption of both ions was endothermic and nonspontaneous. Statistical physics modeling was employed to elucidate the adsorption mechanism of heavy metals on the NS-CS composite. The single-layer model with one energy level provided the most precise fit to the experimental data. Using this model, key factors were calculated, revealing that the adsorption energies for both Ni(II) and Cd(II) ions were below 20 kJ/mol, suggesting that the adsorption process is likely physical in nature.

Investigating upflow anaerobic sludge blanket process to treat forward osmosis effluents of concentrated municipal wastewater under psychrophilic temperature

This work investigated the stability of the Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor under psychrophilic temperatures with varying feed streams, simulating typical and concentrated sewage. In Phase I, treating municipal wastewater, chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal dropped from 77 ± 6 % to 41 ± 2 % as hydraulic retention time decreased from 24 to 12 h and organic loading rate (OLR) increased from 0.6 to 1.3 gCOD/(L∙d). In Phase II, at a similar OLR (≈1.2 gCOD/(L∙d)), the UASB treated organic-rich effluents (from 1.0 to 2.1 ± 0.1 gCOD/L) resulting from the pre-treatment of the forward osmosis (FO) process. The UASB performance improved significantly, achieving 87 ± 3 % COD removal and 63 ± 4 % methane recovery, with microbial analysis confirming methanogen growth. The COD mass balance showed up to 30 % more electrical energy recovery from sewage compared to conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) indicating that the FO-UASB combination is a promising approach to achieve energy-neutral operation in WWTPs.

Activated carbon adsorption for mitigating the harmful effects of antibiotics on the biological activated sludge: Effect on heterotrophic kinetics through respirometry.

Conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are not designed for the abatement of antibiotics, and their effluents are one of the main entry ways of these emerging contaminants to the aquatic environment, causing major concern due to their toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation. When wastewater containing antibiotics enters the bioreactor, they can impact microbial communities of the activated sludge, affecting biodegradation processes of organic matter and nutrients. There is scarce information about the effect of activated carbon on the activated sludge within the bioreactor in presence of antibiotics. In light of this, the effect of representative antibiotics, ciprofloxacin (CIP), nalidixic acid (NAL), and erythromycin (ERY), on the performance of a conventional activated sludge of a WWTP was analyzed by respirometry with and without activated carbon. NAL and ERY negatively affected the net heterotrophic biomass growth rate (r'x,H), with reduction percentages of 26%-90% and 31%-81%, respectively. The addition of activated carbon mitigated this effect, especially for ERY, with increments of even 8% in the r'x,H for the hybrid process when working with 5 ppm of ERY and 80 ppm of activated carbon compared with the value in the absence of antibiotic and activated carbon. This effect was attributed to the enhanced retention of ERY, in comparison to NAL, on the surface of the activated carbon, probably due to its higher molecular size and affinity towards the activated carbon (log Kow = 3.06). This effect was more marked at low sludge retention times (below 8 days). PRACTITIONER POINTS: Ciprofloxacin (CIP), nalidixic acid (NAL), and erythromycin (ERY) were studied. NAL and ERY exerted negative impact on heterotrophic growth rate. Effect of antibiotics on microorganisms in the presence of activated carbon was studied. Activated carbon was mainly relevant for ERY due to its adsorption retention. Enhancement by activated carbon was more significant at low sludge retention times.

Monitoring of OPFRs in WWTPs: Unveiling environmental insights with high resolution mass spectrometry

Exploring the occurrence pattern of organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) in environmental samples has attracted increasing attention lately. In the conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), OPFRs are not sufficiently removed and therefore are discharged to the aquatic environment. However, concerns arise from their release regarding the potential risk posed to organisms. Consequently, closely monitoring this group of emerging contaminants, along with the evaluation of the associated ecological risk are matters of utmost importance. Given the aforementioned information, influents and effluents from two WWTPs (WWTP-A and WWTP-S) in Thessaloniki were gathered during a 36-month sampling initiative spanning from 2020 to 2023 in order to evaluate the occurrence and concentration levels of OPFRs. The collected samples underwent solid-phase extraction and then preceded to analysis with a Q Exactive Focus Orbitrap mass analyzer. In the present study, except for the implementation of the target analysis approach, removal efficiencies and mass loads were further calculated. TBEP (tris-2-butoxyethylphosphate) and TEP (triethyl phosphate) were detected in all influent samples (%DF = 100 %) in WWTP-A while in WWTP-S only TCPP (tris-1-chloro-2-propyl phosphate) was omnipresent. In effluents of both WWTPs, only TEP maintained the same detection frequency (%DF = 100 %). The highest mean concentration levels in WWTP-S influents were calculated for TEP (327 ng/L) followed by TCPP (277 ng/L) while in WWTP-A the highest mean concentrations in influents were detected for TCPP (405 ng/L) and TDCP (Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)phosphate) (124 ng/L). In effluents, the highest mean concentration was reported for TCPP, in both WWTPs, reaching 295 ng/L and 240 ng/L in WWTP-S and WWTP-A respectively. Generally, OPFRs exhibited low to moderate average removal efficiencies. Positive and negative removal efficiencies were also noticed during the monitoring campaign. The average mass load in WWTP-S was as high as 10.1 mg/day/1000 inhabitants and in WWTP-A, 11 mg/day/1000 inhabitants in effluents. Finally, different mathematical tools were employed for the assessment of the risk posed to algae, invertebrates and fish. For the toxicity assessment in these three trophic levels the worst-case scenario was taken into consideration. Generally, all the target analytes presented low or medium values in all trophic levels for acute and chronic toxicity.

Removal Of Pharmaceuticals from Municipal Wastewater Using Malaysian Ganoderma Lucidum Fungal Strain

Emerging contaminants are currently a serious issue primarily because conventional wastewater treatment plants are unable to eliminate them. Environmental pollution caused by various emerging pollutants (particularly pharmaceutical active compounds) in wastewater poses a significant threat to public health and ecological balance. In 21st century, bioremediation is regarded as the most environmental friendly and cost-effective treatment technology. In this study, we investigated the removal efficiency of 19 popular pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs) from municipal wastewater using Malaysian Ganoderma lucidum fungal strain (G. lucidum). The initial and final concentrations of each compound were determined using liquid chromatography time of flight mass spectrometry (LC-TOF/MS), and the percentage of removal was calculated. In this study, experimental results revealed diverse removal efficiencies for the investigated PhACs in municipal wastewater. The PhACs Azithromycin, doxycycline, clindamycin, ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, loratadine, and citalopram, showed remarkable removal rates of 90% and above in municipal wastewater, indicating their potential for effective treatment. Conversely, trimethoprim, ketoprofen, diclofenac, venlafaxine, dexamethasone, atenolol, propranolol, losartan, valsartan, metoprolol, fluconazole, and carbamazepine, demonstrated varying removal efficiencies, suggesting the need for further optimization in wastewater treatment processes for these compounds. This study highlights the importance of understanding the biodegradation of different PhACs in municipal wastewater to develop efficient and targeted bioremediation treatment strategies using local fungal strain of G. lucidum. Overall, this study provides promising suggestions for the bioremediation of pharmaceuticals from wastewater.

Salinity acclimation of nitrifying microorganisms: Nitrification performance, microbial community, osmotic adaptation strategies

Wastewater with high salinity (> 1%) presents a significant challenge to conventional wastewater treatment, particularly for the nitrification process. However, the osmotic adaptation strategies of nitrifying microorganisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we examined the impacts of salinity on the ammonia and nitrite oxidation processes in wastewater. The biofilm samples without salinity acclimation (0 g NaCl/L), after 1% salinity acclimation (10 g NaCl/L), and after 3% salinity acclimation (30 g NaCl/L) were inoculated to conical flasks containing synthetic high-salt wastewater (30 g NaCl/L), respectively. The research findings indicate that, following the salinity acclimation of biofilm, the activity of ammonia oxidation surpassed that of nitrite oxidation. 16S rRNA gene amplicon analysis revealed a noteworthy increase in the abundance of Nitrosomonas (ammonia-oxidizing bacteria) and an unclassified ammonia-oxidizing archaeon within the Nitrososphaeraceae family. In contrast, Nitrospira (nitrite-oxidizing bacteria) exhibited a significant decrease (p < 0.01). Metagenomic analysis indicates certain strains, such as Nitrosomonas sp. PL2, Nitrosomonas mobilis PL3, and Nitrososphaeraceae gen. sp. PL5, possessed various genes related to Na+ efflux, K+ uptake, glutamate synthesis or transport. However, Nitrospira sp. PL6 and Nitrospira sp. PL7 lacked K+ uptake genes. This study elucidates the microbial mechanisms underlying the variations in nitrification observed before and after salinity acclimation of biofilm, which helps to develop microbial evolution strategies to remove nitrogen pollutants under high salinity conditions.

Changes in combined toxicity of benzophenone-3 and humic acid on Daphnia magna and zebrafish during chlorination disinfection process

Conventional wastewater treatment methods cannot completely remove the ultraviolet (UV) filters or dissolved organic matter. The transformation characteristics of these substances during chlorination disinfection and the varying species-specific toxicities of their combinations remain unclear. Here, Daphnia magna and zebrafish were exposed to benzophenone-3 (BP-3) and humic acid (HA) before and after chlorination disinfection. The results from chemical indicators showed that chlorination treatment decreased UV254 values and changed the intensity of parallel factors in three-dimensional fluorescence. Based on chemical analysis, the chlorine concentration and chlorination time for the toxicity experiments were set at 5 mg/L and 6 h, respectively. Exposure to HA and BP-3 before and after chlorination decreased the heart rate (by 1.37–28.12 %) in both species. However, species-specific responses, including survival rate, swimming distance, and expression of genes related to neurodevelopment, growth, and oxidative stress, were induced by chlorination. Chlorination reduced the impact of HA exposure but worsened the effects of HA and BP-3 co-exposure on D. magna. However, in zebrafish, the toxic effects intensified in most of the exposure groups after chlorination. Correlation analysis showed that the parallel factors of three-dimensional fluorescence were correlated with toxic effects on zebrafish, whereas UV254 was more significantly correlated with toxic effects on D. magna. This study provides insights into the combined toxicity of UV filters and dissolved organic matter in different aquatic organisms during chlorination, which is useful for risk control and optimization of the chlorination process.

Theoretical studies into the degradation mechanisms and kinetics of gemfibrozil mediated by hydroxyl and sulfate radicals in the aqueous phase and ecotoxicity evaluation

Gemfibrozil (GEM), an acidic pharmaceutical used to reduce plasma triglycerides and total cholesterol levels, persists in conventional wastewater treatment processes. However, understanding its degradation mechanism and kinetics through advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) remains unexplored. Therefore, this study employed density functional theory (DFT) at the M06-2X/6-311++G(3df,2p) //M06-2X/6-311G(d,p) level to theoretically investigate the oxidation of GEM by hydroxyl and sulfate radicals in aqueous environments. Mechanistic pathways, reaction kinetics, and ecotoxicological assessments were conducted. Two distinct mechanisms involving addition and hydrogen abstraction were delineated. The overall rate constants, accounting for diffusion-limited effects, were determined as 1.84 × 109 M−1 s−1 and 7.73 × 109 M−1 s−1 at 298 K for •OH and SO4•−-initiated reactions, respectively. Analysis revealed that hydrogen abstraction at the carboxyl group predominated, while favorable addition occurred at the carbon atom positioned at the 3rd position of the benzene ring. The calculated half-life of GEM initiated by •OH and SO4•− was approximately 377 and 90 s with their concentration of 10−12 mol/L at 298 K. Ecotoxicity assessment via quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) indicated a certain degree of danger posed by GEM and its degradation by-products to aquatic organisms, albeit exhibiting lower toxicity compared to GEM itself.

Elucidating the role of organic loading rate on the performance and microbial dynamics of a novel continuous-flow aerobic granular sludge reactor

Aerobic granular sludge technology operated in continuous-flow reactors enables the upgrading of existing conventional wastewater treatment plants. The viability of applying this technology at full-scale increases with the simplicity of the bioreactor design. Hence, in contrast to previous research carried out in complex configurations, this study is based on evaluating the capacity of a novel single-chamber continuous-flow bioreactor to operate at different loads found in domestic sewage, highlighting that this configuration combines and joins the advantages of activated sludge and granular sludge technologies. At organic loading rates ranging from 0.45 to 1.85 kg COD•m−3•d−1, the reactors achieved high performance, removing >80 % of the chemical oxygen demand, regardless influent characteristics. The trend of ammonium removal rates was risen over operational time. Moreover, the granular size and biomass concentration increased with the organic loading rate. Changes in the influent did not compromise the structure of the granules. Microbiota studies showed a high diversity in communities at lower organic loading rates, whereas a strong microbial competition was detected at high loading rates, linking with lower evenness. Phylotypes belonging to Hypocreales played a key role in mature granules.

Native Microalgae-Bacteria Consortia: A Sustainable Approach for Effective Urban Wastewater Bioremediation and Disinfection.

Urban wastewater is a significant by-product of human activities. Conventional urban wastewater treatment plants have limitations in their treatment, mainly concerning the low removal efficiency of conventional and emerging contaminants. Discharged wastewater also contains harmful microorganisms, posing risks to public health, especially by spreading antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes. Therefore, this study assesses the potential of a native microalgae-bacteria system (MBS) for urban wastewater bioremediation and disinfection, targeting NH4+-N and PO43--P removal, coliform reduction, and antibiotic resistance gene mitigation. The MBS showed promising results, including a high specific growth rate (0.651 ± 0.155 d-1) and a significant average removal rate of NH4+-N and PO43--P (9.05 ± 1.24 mg L-1 d-1 and 0.79 ± 0.06 mg L-1 d-1, respectively). Microalgae-induced pH increase rapidly reduces coliforms (r > 0.9), including Escherichia coli, within 3 to 6 days. Notably, the prevalence of intI1 and the antibiotic resistance genes sul1 and blaTEM are significantly diminished, presenting the MBS as a sustainable approach for tertiary wastewater treatment to combat eutrophication and reduce waterborne disease risks and antibiotic resistance spread.

Total RNA analysis of the active microbiome on moving bed biofilm reactor carriers under incrementally increasing micropollutant concentrations.

Micropollutants are increasingly prevalent in the aquatic environment. A major part of these originates from wastewater treatment plants since traditional treatment technologies do not remove micropollutants sufficiently. Moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBRs), however, have been shown to aid in micropollutant removal when applied to conventional wastewater treatment as a polishing step. Here, we used Total RNA sequencing to investigate both the active microbial community and functional dynamics of MBBR biofilms when these were exposed to increasing micropollutant concentrations over time. Concurrently, we conducted batch culture experiments using biofilm carriers from the MBBRs to assess micropollutant degradation potential. Our study showed that biofilm eukaryotes, in particular protozoa, were negatively influenced by micropollutant exposure, in contrast to prokaryotes that increased in relative abundance. Further, we found several functional genes that were differentially expressed between the MBBR with added micropollutants and the control. These include genes involved in aromatic and xenobiotic compound degradation. Moreover, the biofilm carrier batch experiment showed vastly different alterations in benzotriazole and diclofenac degradation following the increased micropollutant concentrations in the MBBR. Ultimately, this study provides essential insights into the microbial community and functional dynamics of MBBRs and how an increased load of micropollutants influences these dynamics.

Advanced Treatment Technologies for Pollutants Removal in Wastewater

Conventional wastewater treatment technologies have been extensively studied for degrading organic matter, suspended solids, nutrient removal, and lowering microbial loads. They produce acceptable-quality effluent, but researchers have reported several limitations. Recently, advanced wastewater treatment technologies have preceded as an alternative to the degradation of recalcitrant wastes such as persistent organic compounds (POPs), pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs), contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), and heavy metals (H.M). They can be physical, chemical, biological, or integration between one or more technologies. This is to meet the requirements for reuse for different purposes, minimize or prevent the negative impacts on the environment, and create new untraditional water resources to solve the water shortage problem. This article is a collected review of advanced wastewater treatment technologies. Also, the applications of these technologies with special concern for partially/hardly degradable pollutants from wastewater are indicated. They are eco-friendly, cost-effective, low-energy systems with a small footprint. Their selection depends on the characterization of wastewater, biodegradability, available footprint, quality of treated effluent required, cost, availability of funds, and personal skills.

Comparing Conventional and Advanced Approaches for Heavy Metal Removal in Wastewater Treatment: An In-Depth Review Emphasizing Filter-Based Strategies.

Various industrial activities release heavy metal ions into the environment, which represent one of the major toxic pollutants owing to their severe effects on the environment, humans, and all living species. Despite several technological advances and breakthroughs, wastewater treatment remains a critical global issue. Traditional techniques are dedicated to extracting heavy metal ions from diverse wastewater origins, encompassing coagulation/flocculation, precipitation, flotation, and ion exchange. Their cost, side toxicity, or ineffectiveness often limit their large-scale use. Due to their adaptable design, simple operation, and reasonable cost, membrane filtration and adsorption have proven their efficiency in removing metals from wastewater. Recently, adsorption-based filters have appeared promising in treating water. Within this range, filters incorporating natural, synthetic, or hybrid adsorbents present an appealing alternative to conventional approaches. This review aims to list and describe the conventional and advanced wastewater treatment methods by comparing their efficiency, cost, and environmental impact. Adsorption-based filters were highlighted due to the significant advantages they can provide.

Biodegradation kinetics of organic micropollutants in biofilters for advanced wastewater treatment – Impact of operational conditions and biomass origin on removal

Biofiltration processes are often part of advanced wastewater treatment (aWWT) technologies for the removal of organic micropollutants (OMP) from conventional wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents. Although biological effects are not always the main focus of these technologies (e.g. filtration through granular activated carbon), they have been shown to contribute significantly to total OMP removal. While OMP biodegradation kinetics in conventional biological wastewater treatment are well researched, no systematic comparison to biomass from aWWT is available. This biomass faces different growth conditions and higher OMP concentrations relative to the background organic matter. Adaptation to these conditions could be possible and could lead to faster OMP biodegradation kinetics, which would show in a larger pseudo first-order biodegradation kinetic constant kbiol. In this work, kbiol values for biomass obtained from aWWT biofilters were determined by evaluating OMP removals measured in lab-scale biofilters using a mechanistic model of the experimental setup. A comparison to kbiol values from literature for conventional wastewater treatment (with nutrient removal) revealed similar OMP biodegradation kinetics without any advantages of biomass from aWWT. A conceptual evaluation of influencing factors on OMP removal in biofilters showed that operational parameters (such as the biomass concentration or the empty bed contact time) and the affinity of OMPs to adsorb on biomass have a significant additional effect on biological OMP removal. Therefore, kbiol values alone are not sufficient to estimate biological OMP removal in biofilters and further information about the system is required.