Removal Of Emerging Pollutants Research Articles

Exploring expert perceptions towards emerging pollutants and their impacts in reused wastewater and agriculture

Water sustainability involves several natural and human spheres conditioning the availability and quality of water resources and life conservation. Regarding water quality, currently emerging pollutants (EPs) are a key topic at global scale since they are difficult to remove by traditional water treatment systems. In this context, this work aims to evaluate experts’ perception of several EPs issues with a special focus on semi-arid Mediterranean areas where EPs are negatively impacting water, environmental, and agricultural systems as, in these areas, effluents from water treatment plants are widely reused in the irrigation of crops, urban gardens, and golf courses or directly discharged on natural streams. Particularly, a detailed survey composed of questions about EPs regulation, risk insight, equipment, social and economic impacts, was performed collecting 437 responses. Main results suggested that EPs existence may pose a significant risk and a destabilizing factor in wastewater reuse, with negative impacts to crop irrigation, being managers the class with more concern followed by scientifics and administratives. New EPs regulations raises uncertainty amongst experts since 29 % considered positive its creation, while 20 % estimated this fact as regular and 14 % as negative. As well, although the combination of technologies to improve EPs removal generated agreement, aspects like the treatment charges at water treatment plants or the price/bill of EPs-free water were features of ambiguity. Within EPs elimination, the three expert groups highlighted that technologies impacts in the sustainability spheres will be positive on public health (87 % of responses), social trust (75 %), and environmental sustainability (76 %). Likewise, 88 % of experts concurred that the future of wastewater reuse relies on a combination of technologies. These findings offer valuable information to water legislators and policymakers to manage water resources, especially in semi-arid areas due to the final use of treated effluents and, therefore, the great implications for agriculture, environment and human health.

Enhanced removal of emerging pollutants through visible light-activated carbon nitride materials immobilized over 3D printed structures

This study investigates the performance of carbon nitride (CN) photocatalysts immobilized on 3D printed cylindrical supports for the removal of selected emerging pollutants, namely venlafaxine (VFX), citalopram (CTP), fluoxetine (FXT), and carbamazepine (CBZ), due to their rising consumption as antidepressants and the significant concerns for public health and the environment, mainly due to the direct impact of their presence in surface waters. The CN photocatalysts were synthesized using two precursors (dicyandiamide and urea), forming four different CN materials. Among the immobilized CN photocatalysts tested, the bulk CN prepared from urea (CNB-U/PLA) revealed the highest efficiency for the removal of VFX as the target antidepressant (above 90% after 30 min), which was ascribed to the lower recombination of photogenerated charges of this photocatalyst. The reuse tests confirmed the robust and effective photocatalytic performance of the CNB-U/PLA photocatalyst over multiple cycles, while its versatility with different support configurations demonstrates its adaptability and broad potential for various photocatalytic applications. The simultaneous removal of the four antidepressants was performed at low concentrations (1.8 μM), employing the most efficient immobilized photocatalyst (CNB-U/PLA), yielding remarkably high conversion rates (above 90% for VFX, CTP, and FXT, and around 70% for CBZ, after 60 min) under visible irradiation. The results demonstrate the ability of the immobilized CN system to effectively eliminate contaminants with different chemical properties. This study emphasizes the potential of this approach for comprehensive emerging pollutants removal, highlighting its significance in water treatment and environmental remediation strategies.

Green carbon induced super hydrophilic bioFoam filters for hazardous emerging pollutants removal and their sustainable value addition

Solvothermal derived carbon (STC) offers unique characteristics due to their confined morphology, chemical functionality, surface acidity as well as high surface area. On the other hand, highly porous biofoam can be prepared using natural polymers with varying porosity and surface characteristics. Herein, we have prepared multi-functional STC induced biofoam (STC-BF) as a module-based device for water treatment applications. The biofoam was converted into highly porous architecture through lyophilisation of composite gel composed of Agar-Agar (Ar) and Chitosan (CS). The obtained STC-BF were studied for their stability, physical and chemical compositions using different analytical techniques such as ATR-IR, XPS, TGA, FE-SEM, Zeta potential. Furthermore, the stable characterized STC-BFs were tested as an adsorptive filter for removal of emerging pollutants like organic dyes involving methyl orange (MO), anions such as Chromate (CrO42−) and Fluoride (F−), and other emerging pollutants like Ciprofloxacin (CIP), Paracetamol (PAR), Dichlophenac (DIC), respectively. Detailed studies on STC, C-BF and STC-BF showed that the synergetic effect of both STC and bio-foam in the form of STC-BF exhibited an exceptionally high maximum adsorption capacity of 896.56 mg/g of MO, 387.56 mg/g for CIP, 142.89 mg/g for CrO42− ion and 31.45 mg/g for F− ion. Further, foam filters were tested for its real time and technological feasibility in which the universal foam filter showed a cumulative flux of ~400 L−1m−2h−1 with >90% rejection for MO, CIP and CrO42− ions and around 60% rejection for F− ions.

A review on bioelectrochemical systems for emerging pollutants remediation: A computational approaches

A wide range of pollutant compounds are discharged into the environment that they need suitable remediations. For solving the problem, the bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) are green technology suitable for the pollutant treatments. The induced electric current in BESs can stimulate microbes metabolism and increasing electron transfer. It has been reported that the performance of BESs in reducing wastewater emerging pollutants (EPs) reaches more than 90 %. In the BESs, the emerging pollutants as carbon sources plays a significant role between competition and bacterial community and their metabolism. Although some BESs have been presented for the treatment systems, little attention has been paid to the computational approaches and kinetics studies of EPs remediation. Therefore, the current review summarizes the application of BESs for emerging pollutants removal. Moreover, we have provided the predominant microorganisms as well as the microbial metabolism and computational approaches in the biodegradation of EPs. In this review, density functional theory (DFT), molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), artificial intelligence or artificial neural networks (ANNs), and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) simulations have presented for the BESs. For interpretation of the BESs Michaelis-Menten, First-order kinetic and second order models are suitable kinetic models.

Biochar for the Removal of Emerging Pollutants from Aquatic Systems: A Review.

Water contaminated with emerging pollutants has become a serious environmental issue globally. Biochar is a porous and carbon-rich material produced from biomass pyrolysis and has the potential to be used as an integrated adsorptive material. Many studies have shown that biochar is capable to adsorb emerging pollutants from aquatic systems and could be used to solve the water pollution problem. Here, we provided a dual perspective on removing emerging pollutants from aquatic systems using biochar and analyzed the emerging pollutant removal efficiency from the aspects of biochar types, pollutant types and coexistence with heavy metals, as well as the associated mechanisms. The potential risks and future research directions of biochar utilization are also presented. This review aims to assist researchers interested in using biochar for emerging pollutants remediation in aquatic systems and facilitate research on emerging pollutants removal, thereby reducing their environmental risk.

Emerging pollutants removal in full-scale biological treatment plants: A case study

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are the main source of emerging pollutants encountered in surface water, albeit existing standards apply to a very limited number of emerging compounds. This paper presents a case study on non-target analysis, performed on influent and effluent samples from the WWTPs in Kocaeli, Türkiye. The samples were concentrated through solid-phase extraction, followed by LC-MS/MS analysis to identify emerging compounds, typically found in wastewater and treated wastewater. The data obtained was evaluated based on wastewater characteristics and the flow rate of the selected WWTPs. The removal of detected emerging compounds was calculated and classified as — “not removed”, and “partially removed”. Our analysis showed pharmaceutics as the most prevalent detected compounds, with the highest level of removal efficiency. The study demonstrated the necessity for redesigning conventional WWTPs to reduce the potential escape of emerging pollutants, with potential accumulation and transformation into harmful by-products in the environment.

Single and dual polymeric sponges for emerging pollutants removal

A platform of polymeric cryogels based on methacrylic acid (C-mA) meglumine (C-megl), lysine (C-lys), and 2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate (C-ph), as well as a combination thereof having both negatively and positively charged moieties, have been synthesized and used to efficiently remove emerging contaminants from water. Their peculiar properties in sequestering antibiotics (Levofloxacin, Ampicillin, Doxycycline), anti-inflammatory (Piroxicam), antifungal (Fluconazole), anti-parasite (Moxidectin), pesticides (2,4D) and dyes (Thymol blue, Methylene Violet) were tested taking into account their ionic nature in solution. The adsorption experiments performed in batches at different pH and pollutant concentrations have demonstrated the outstanding ability of these macroporous soft systems in complexing molecules by the instauration of various binding forces, also in the presence of inorganic species such as arsenic (as arseniate). In addition, it was demonstrated as the novel dual-material, ad-hoc synthesized by using opposite charge cryogels, can simultaneously remove antagonist dyes in a single and fast cycle. Besides, a quasi-total release of the target molecules was achieved by changing pH, allowing the regeneration of the macroporous sponges for multiple re-uses without losing their performance. The latter peculiar feature may be adopted for drug delivery applications since the release can be modulated and programmed by a specific pH stimulus.

Safe water reuse through a quasi-natural water cycle

Abstract Safe water reuse usually means the provision of reclaimed water with its quality meeting the criteria for safeguarding human health and aquatic ecology. Regarding this, people often overstress the technological magic in terms of hazardous substances removal by engineered processes while ignoring the utilization of nature's power to provide an additional barrier for safety control. Based on an understanding of the function of the hydrological cycle to secure water quality and the fact that water reuse is through a water loop, the author presented his viewpoint on creating a quasi-natural water cycle for water reuse. Existing data showed the remarkable effects of emerging pollutants removal and associated reduction of biotoxicities from the reclaimed water during open-storage under a quasi-natural condition. Adsorption by soil particles, sunlight-induced photolysis and purification by aquatic life were thought to be the major actions contributing to effective water quality improvement in a quasi-natural manner. Safe water reuse through a quasi-natural water cycle can thus be a recommendable strategy for system design in accordance with the purposes of water use.

Peracetic acid-based advanced oxidation processes for the degradation of emerging pollutants: A critical review

An ever-increasing number of anthropogenic pollutants, referred to as emerging pollutants (EPs), have been of concern in recent years. These pollutants are known for the potential risk that they pose in the environment, and have been consistently found in surface, waste, and potable waters. Moreover, some of them are persistent to conventional treatments and in the environment. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are widely used technology for the removal of EPs The use of peracetic acid (PAA) as an oxidant AOP for the treatment of EPs has attracted increasing interest, owing to its ease of activation, and to the selectivity of the organic radicals that are generated in these processes towards electron rich sites, which makes them more robust against the effect of scavenging agents in real matrices. This work presents a critical analysis of the advantages, disadvantages, and opportunities of PAA-based processes. Several strategies for PAA activation were analyzed, including UV and transition metal activation, heterogeneous catalysis, thermal and microwave activation, and phosphate induced activation. It was found that PAA-based AOPs seem to have several advantages over other widely studied processes. Some key perspectives for research include testing of these processes with a variety of EPs, analysis of transformation products and their toxicity in the treated effluents, multivariate optimization of the process, direct comparison with widely studied oxidants, and experimentation for escalation and implementation. Nevertheless, PAA-based AOPs seem to be a promising alternative to conventional AOPs.

Emerging Pollutants in Wastewater, Advanced Oxidation Processes as an Alternative Treatment and Perspectives

Emerging pollutants are present in wastewaters treated by conventional processes. Due to water cycle interactions, these contaminants have been reported in groundwater, surface water, and drinking waters. Since conventional processes cannot guarantee their removal or biotransformation, it is necessary to study processes that comply with complete elimination. The current literature review was conducted to describe and provide an overview of the available information about the most significant groups of emerging pollutants that could potentially be found in the wastewater and the environment. In addition, it describes the main entry and distribution pathways of emerging contaminants into the environment through the water and wastewater cycle, as well as some of the potential effects they may cause to flora, fauna, and humans. Relevant information on the SARS-CoV-2 virus and its potential spread through wastewater is included. Furthermore, it also outlines some of the Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) used for the total or partial emerging pollutants removal, emphasizing the reaction mechanisms and process parameters that need to be considered. As well, some biological processes that, although slow, are effective for the biotransformation of some emerging contaminants and can be used in combination with advanced oxidation processes.

Multifunctional Membranes-A Versatile Approach for Emerging Pollutants Removal.

This paper presents a comprehensive literature review surveying the most important polymer materials used for electrospinning processes and applied as membranes for the removal of emerging pollutants. Two types of processes integrate these membrane types: separation processes, where electrospun polymers act as a support for thin film composites (TFC), and adsorption as single or coupled processes (photo-catalysis, advanced oxidation, electrochemical), where a functionalization step is essential for the electrospun polymer to improve its properties. Emerging pollutants (EPs) released in the environment can be efficiently removed from water systems using electrospun membranes. The relevant results regarding removal efficiency, adsorption capacity, and the size and porosity of the membranes and fibers used for different EPs are described in detail.

Photoinduced synthesis of green photocatalyst Fe3O4/BiOBr/CQDs derived from corncob biomass for carbamazepine degradation: The role of selectively more CQDs decoration and Z-scheme structure

• Fe 3 O 4 /BiOBr/CQDs derived from corncob biomass was prepared by photoinduced method. • More CQDs decoration by photoinduced method rather than hydrolysis method was proved. • Better visible light absorption and charge transfer occurred with the help of CQDs. • Z-scheme structure construction facilitated carbamazepine degradation process. • Agricultural wastes full utilization was also achieved by using residual hydrochar. Seeking green, highly efficient and recyclable photocatalysts for emerging pollutants removal is urgent and desirable in water treatment area. In this work, novel and environmental-friendly photocatalyst Fe 3 O 4 /BiOBr/CQDs decorated by corncob biomass carbon quantum dots (CQDs) was fabricated successfully via photoinduced method for the first time. More CQDs as electrons reservoir were deposited on the (1 1 0) facet of BiOBr by photoinduced strategy compared to common hydrolysis method through morphology observation. Besides, enhanced visible light absorption and photogenerated charge transfer efficiency make Fe 3 O 4 /BiOBr/CQDs perform best photocatalytic activity towards carbamazepine (CBZ, 10 mg/L) removal, where 99.52% CBZ could be eliminated within 120 min light irradiation. Moreover, ·O 2 – , h + and ·OH dominated the photodegradation process and three detailed degradation pathways depicted the transformation behavior of CBZ, which were mainly attributed to Z-scheme structure construction caused by electronic bridging and up-conversion photoluminescence of biomass CQDs. A series of photoelectrochemical tests verified the existence of CQDs and Fe 3 O 4 solved the high charge recombination rate and low electron utilization problems of BiOBr indeed. Combined with the rational utilization of corncob waste biomass, this research indicates green photocatalyst Fe 3 O 4 /BiOBr/CQDs synthesized by photoinduced method will have wide potential in water pollutant treatment in the future.

Occurrence and removal of emerging pollutants in urban sewage treatment plants using LC-QToF-MS suspect screening and quantification

Urban wastewaters (WW) are a major vector of many emerging pollutants (EPs) to aquatic ecosystems, as urban wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are not designed to abate them. New methods are now critically necessary for a more comprehensive analysis of WW samples and for the assessment of the WWTP efficiency in EP removal. To this end, the present study aims to develop a methodology to identify and quantify EPs, especially pharmaceutical residues and pesticides, in the raw and treated wastewater of 10 heterogeneous WWTPs in a highly urbanized territory in France over three sampling campaigns, through the following steps: (1) development and implementation of a suspect screening of EPs in WW samples, based on a solid phase extraction followed by an LC-QToF-MS analysis; (2) confirmation of their identification by reinjection of WW samples spiked with authentic analytical standards; (3) quantification of previously identified compounds by targeted LC-QToF-MS analysis in raw and treated effluents and assessment of their removal efficiency by WWTPs. Forty-one EPs, including 37 pharmaceutical residues (such as anti-depressive, anti-hypertensive, or antipsychotic drugs) and 4 pesticides, were identified by suspect screening. Some of them (e.g. milnacipran) are reported for the first time in urban WWTPs in this study. High variability in detection frequency and concentrations were observed in function of the EP and WWTP. Nevertheless, median removal rates were considered negative or low for more than 50% of the EPs (respectively 4 and 17), leading to a quantification of significant concentrations in treated WW. Their release into receiving streams may thus lead to ecotoxicological risks that should be evaluated in order to prevent any degradation of the exposed ecosystems.

Occurrence and Fate of Emerging Pollutants in Water Environment and Options for Their Removal

Emerging pollutants (EPs) are chemicals known to cause major impacts on the terrestrial, aquatic life and human health as a result of their chronic and acute toxicity. Although lots of studies on EPs behavior in the aquatic environment are currently available in literature, an urgent requirement exists to complete toxicological studies and develop and implement efficient and ecological methods for their removal. This paper raises some relevant problems related to water environment pollution with EPs, the risks they can generate for aquatic life and humans and opportunities to reduce the effects of pollution by EPs removal. Categories of emerging chemicals of concern in the environment, their sources, fate and impacts, with some examples are discussed. Organic UV filters are shortly presented as a relative new EPs category, with a focus on the need to develop extensive experimental studies on their environmental occurrence, fate and removal. Furthermore, sources for the aquatic environment resulting from discharging EPs directly into rivers from wastewater treatment plants are examined. The incidence of environmental and human health risks related to EPs is also considered. The removal of EPs from the environment as a solution to risk mitigation is addressed, with emphasis on several non-conventional processes involving biological removal of EPs. The paper provides a critical look at the current challenges posed by the presence of emerging pollutants in the aquatic environment, with critical comments and recommendations for further research to reduce the impact of EPs on water and human health and improve the performance of developed methods for their removal.

Employ of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for pharmaceuticals ibuprofen and diclofenac removal in mesocosm-scale constructed wetlands

This study investigated the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization on the growth of wetland plants (Glyceria maxima), and treatment performance in constructed wetlands (CWs) under the stress of pharmaceuticals ibuprofen (IBU) and diclofenac (DCF). Results showed that the growth of G. maxima was significantly increased by AMF colonization. AMF significantly increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes (peroxidase and superoxide dismutase) and soluble protein content in wetland plants, but the contents of malondialdehyde and O2•− were reduced. The removal efficiencies of TOC, PO43−-P, NH4+-N, and TN were increased in AMF+ treatments by 6%, 11%, 15% and 11%, respectively. AMF increased the removal efficiencies of IBU and DCF by 6–14% and 2–21%, respectively, and reduced the content of their metabolites (2-OH IBU, CA IBU and 4′-OH DCF) in the effluent. Besides, the presence of AMF increased the contents of IBU and DCF in plant roots, while decreased their transportation to shoots. AMF symbiosis decreased the contents of IBU metabolites (2-OH IBU and CA IBU) but increased the contents of DCF metabolite (4′-OH DCF) in the roots of the host plant. In conclusion, these results indicated that AMF plays a promising role in CWs for emerging pollutants removal.

Density functional theory study of emerging pollutants removal from water by covalent triazine based framework

In this work porous covalent triazine based frame-work (CTF) is investigated for the removal of emerging pollutants methyl- and propylparaben (MeTP and ProP) using density functional theory approach. Various adsorption configurations of these pollutants over the CTF are evaluated by computing geometrical parameters, adsorption energies (Ead), thermodynamic parameters, total density of states (TDOS), atom in molecule (AIM), natural bonding orbital (NBO), reduced density gradient (RDG) and noncovalent interaction (NCI) analysis. The Ead ranges from −5.92 kcal/mol to −11.70 in gas phase and − 2.50 kcal/mol to −9.57 kcal/mol in solvent phase for MeTP@CTF while −7.04 kcal/mol to −10.23 kcal/mol and − 5.34 kcal/mol to −7.37 kcal/mol is noticed for ProP@CTF, respectively. The negative values of Ead, ∆H (−3.90 to −9.30 kcal/mol) and ΔG (−2.96 to −8.91 kcal/mol) for all the adsorption configurations confirm the energetic favorable, exothermic and hence spontaneous/feasible nature of the process. The reduction in the energy gap (Egap) shown by TDOS results described the sensitivity of CTF towards the MeTP and ProP. The higher sensitivity of CTF towards both molecules is shown in adsorption configuration 2. The results of AIM, NBO, RDG and NCI analysis are in agreement with the TDOS analysis and confirm that the adsorption occurred through intermolecular hydrogen bonds. These results suggest that CTF can be used as a potent adsorbent for the purification of water from these emerging pollutants.

Environmental application of monolithic carbonaceous aerogels for the removal of emerging pollutants

In this study, the performance of three commercial available monolithic carbonaceous aerogels (NQ30A, NQ60A and NQ80A) for the removal of different emerging pollutants, detected in water sources, was evaluated. More specifically, the removal of two pharmaceuticals (antipyrine and sulfamethoxazole) and an anti-fungal agent (methyl paraben), widely used in cosmetics, was studied. The NQ60A demonstrated the best adsorption characteristics and effectively adsorbed over 50 mg/g of the antipyrine and around 30 mg/g sulfamethoxazole and methyl paraben. The kinetic study of the adsorption process revealed that pseudo-first order kinetic model described very well the kinetic behaviour of the selected pollutants onto the NQ60A aerogel. After that, the regeneration of the loaded aerogel, with antipyrine alone and in presence of the other two contaminants, was evaluated. The regeneration was accomplished in two ways: (1) by using directly the loaded aerogels as cathode during the electro-Fenton treatment and (2) by its regeneration immersed in the bulk volume of electro-Fenton cell (boron doped diamond as anode and carbon felt as cathode). Both approaches can provide an effective removal of the pollutants inside the aerogel. In addition, the regenerated aerogel proved to maintain its adsorptive properties and can be successfully reused in successive cycles of adsorption-regeneration. On the basis of these promising results, it can be concluded that the proposed strategy based on aerogels adsorption and electro-Fenton regeneration is a suitable alternative for emerging pollutants removal from water streams.

Contamination of N-poor wastewater with emerging pollutants does not affect the performance of purple phototrophic bacteria and the subsequent resource recovery potential

Propagation of emerging pollutants (EPs) in wastewater treatment plants has become a warning sign, especially for novel resource-recovery concepts. The fate of EPs on purple phototrophic bacteria (PPB)-based systems has not yet been determined. This work analyzes the performance of a photo-anaerobic membrane bioreactor treating a low-N wastewater contaminated with 25 EPs. The chemical oxygen demand (COD), N and P removal efficiencies were stable (76 ± 8, 62 ± 15 and 36 ± 8 %, respectively) for EPs loading rate ranging from 50 to 200 ng L-1 d-1. The PPB community adapted to changes in both the EPs concentration and the organic loading rate (OLR) and maintained dominance with >85 % of total 16S gene copies. Indeed, an increment of the OLR caused an increase of the biomass growth and activity concomitantly with a higher EPs removal efficiency (30 ± 13 vs 54 ± 11 % removal for OLR of 307 ± 4 and 590 ± 8 mgCOD L-1 d-1, respectively). Biodegradation is the main mechanism of EPs removal due to low EPs accumulation on the biomass, the membrane or the reactor walls. Low EPs adsorption avoided biomass contamination, resulting in no effect on its biological methane potential. These results support the use of PPB technologies for resource recovery with low EPs contamination of the products.

Wetlands for wastewater treatment.

This article presents an update on the research and practical demonstration of wetland treatment technologies for wastewater treatment. Applications of wetlands in wastewater treatment (as an advanced treatment unit or a decentralized system) and stormwater management or treatment for nutrient and pollutant removal (metals, industrial and emerging pollutants including pharmaceutical compounds and pathogens) are highlighted. A summary of studies involving the effects of vegetation, wetland design and operation, and configurations for efficient treatment of various municipal and industrial wastewaters is also included. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Provides an update on current research and development of wetland technologies for wastewater treatment. Effects of vegetation, pathogens removal, heavy metals and emerging pollutants removal are included. Wetland design and operation is a key factor to improve water quality of wetland effluent.

Preparation of magnetic nanosphere/nanorod/nanosheet-like Fe3O4/Bi2S3/BiOBr with enhanced (0 0 1) and (1 1 0) facets to photodegrade diclofenac and ibuprofen under visible LED light irradiation

A novel magnetic nanosphere/nanorod/nanosheet-like photocatalyst Fe3O4/Bi2S3/BiOBr was fabricated via a facile one-pot solvothermal method firstly and exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance for diclofenac (DCF) and ibuprofen (IBU) removal, where the removal efficiencies of DCF and IBU were 93.81% and 96.78% after 40 min and 30 min visible LED light irradiation, respectively. The best preparation ratios with Bi2S3 mass were 4% and 1% for DCF and IBU removal respectively, which might be attributed to better crystallinities of (0 0 1) and (1 1 0) facets respectively. Besides, enhanced charge separation and better crystallinity with introduction of Fe3O4 and Bi2S3 promoted higher photocatalytic performance of Fe3O4/Bi2S3/BiOBr compared with pure BiOBr, Bi2S3 and Bi2S3/BiOBr. Influencing factors experiments (pH, common anions, DOM) results showed beneficial or detrimental effects to a certain extent. While removal efficiencies in matrices of Yellow River (DCF: 55.65%; IBU: 54.90%) and Wastewater treatment plant (DCF: 68.66%; IBU: 58.90%) exhibited lower than those in ultrapure water. Moreover, h+ and e− played the uppermost roles in the DCF and IBU photodegradation according to active species trapping experiment results. Furthermore, four and two main degradation pathways for DCF and IBU removal respectively through 3D EEMs and HRMS analyses were proposed. Lastly, easy separation from water and excellent reusability proved its better potential for emerging pollutants removal in environment remediation area.