Digging deep into a GAC filter - Temporal and spatial profiling of adsorbed organic micropollutants

Key constructed wetland design features for maximized micropollutant removal from treated municipal wastewater: A literature study based on 16 indicator micropollutants

The removal of micropollutants from wastewater by constructed wetlands (CWs) has been extensively studied and reviewed over the past years. However, most studies do not specifically focus on the removal of micropollutants from the effluent of conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) that still contains micropollutants, but on the removal of micropollutants from raw wastewater. Raw wastewater has a significantly different composition compared to WWTP effluent, which positively or negatively affects micropollutant removal mechanisms. To determine the optimal CW design for post-treatment of WWTP effluent to achieve additional micropollutant removal, this review analyzes the removal of 16 Dutch indicator micropollutants for post-treatment technology evaluation from WWTP effluent by different types of CWs. It was concluded that CW systems with organic enhanced adsorption substrates reach the highest micropollutant removal efficiency as a result of adsorption, but that the longevity of the enhanced adsorption effect is not known in the systems studied until now. Aerobic biodegradation and photodegradation are other relevant removal mechanisms for the studied micropollutants. However, a current knowledge gap is whether active aeration to stimulate the aerobic micropollutant biodegradation results in an increased micropollutant removal from WWTP effluent. Further knowledge gaps that impede the wider application of CW systems for micropollutant removal from WWTP effluent and allow a fair comparison with other post-treatment technologies for enhanced micropollutant removal, such as ozonation and activated carbon adsorption, relate to i) saturation of enhanced adsorption substrate; ii) the analysis of transformation products and biological effects; iii) insights in the relationship between microbial community composition and micropollutant biodegradation; iv) plant uptake and in-plant degradation of micropollutants; v) establishing design rules for appropriate hydraulic loading rates and/or hydraulic retention times for CWs dedicated to micropollutant removal from WWTP effluent; and vi) the energy- and carbon footprint of different CW systems. This review finishes with detailed suggestions for future research directions that provide answers to these knowledge gaps.

Predicting and improving the microbial removal of organic micropollutants during wastewater treatment: A review

Organic micropollutants (OMPs) consist of widely used chemicals such as pharmaceuticals and pesticides that can persist in surface and groundwaters at low concentrations (ng/L to μg/L) for a long time. The presence of OMPs in water can disrupt aquatic ecosystems and threaten the quality of drinking water sources. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) rely on microorganisms to remove major nutrients from water, but their effectiveness at removing OMPs varies. Low removal efficiency might be the result of low concentrations, inherent stable chemical structures of OMPs, or suboptimal conditions in WWTPs. In this review, we discuss these factors, with special emphasis on the ongoing adaptation of microorganisms to degrade OMPs. Finally, recommendations are drawn to improve the prediction of OMP removal in WWTPs and to optimize the design of new microbial treatment strategies. OMP removal seems to be concentration-, compound-, and process-dependent, which poses a great complexity to develop accurate prediction models and effective microbial processes targeting all OMPs.

Is sorption technology fit for the removal of persistent and mobile organic contaminants from water?

Persistent, Mobile, and Toxic (PMT) and very persistent and very mobile (vPvM) substances are a growing threat to water security and safety. Many of these substances are distinctively different from other more traditional contaminants in terms of their charge, polarity, and aromaticity. This results in distinctively different sorption affinities towards traditional sorbents such as activated carbon. Additionally, an increasing awareness on the environmental impact and carbon footprint of sorption technologies puts some of the more energy-intensive practices in water treatment into question. Commonly used approaches may thus need to be readjusted to become fit for purpose to remove some of the more challenging PMT and vPvM substances, including for example short chained per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). We here critically review the interactions that drive sorption of organic compounds to activated carbon and related sorbent materials and identify opportunities and limitations of tailoring activated carbon for PMT and vPvM removal. Other less traditional sorbent materials, including ion exchange resins, modified cyclodextrins, zeolites and metal-organic frameworks are then discussed for potential alternative or complementary use in water treatment scenarios. Sorbent regeneration approaches are evaluated in terms of their potential, considering reusability, potential for on-site regeneration, and potential for local production. In this context, we also discuss the benefits of coupling sorption to destructive technologies or to other separation technologies. Finally, we sketch out possible future trends in the evolution of sorption technologies for PMT and vPvM removal from water.