Dissolved effluent organic matter: Characteristics and potential implications in wastewater treatment and reuse applications. (15th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Michael-Kordatou, I.; Michael, C.; Duan, X.; He, X.; Dionysiou, D.D.; Mills, M.A.; Fatta-Kassinos, D.
• Is Part Of: Water research. Volume 77(2015)
• Page Start: 213
• Page End: 248
• Publication Date: 2015-06-15
• Subjects: Biological effects -- Dissolved effluent organic matter -- Effluent organic matter -- Metal complexation -- Toxicity -- Wastewater treatment and reuse; ABR anaerobic baffled reactor -- AC activated carbon -- AER anion-exchange resin -- AOPs advanced chemical oxidation processes -- ARB&ARG antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes -- BAPs biomass-associated products -- BLM biotic ligand model -- BOD biological oxygen demand -- CAS conventional activated sludge -- CECs contaminants of emerging concern -- COD chemical oxygen demand -- DBPs disinfection by-products -- dEfOM dissolved effluent organic matter -- DOC dissolved organic carbon -- DON dissolved organic nitrogen -- DPR direct potable use -- EC European Commission -- EDCs endocrine disrupting chemicals -- EfOM effluent organic matter -- EQS environmental quality standards -- ESI-FT-ICR-MS electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry -- FI fluorescence index -- FTIR Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry -- FT-MS Orbitrap Fourier transform mass spectrometry -- GAC granular activated carbon -- GC gas chromatography -- HAAs haloacetic acids -- HRT Hydraulic retention time -- HPSEC high performance size-exclusion chromatography -- IPR indirect potable reuse -- LEDs light emitting diodes -- LMM low molar mass -- MBR membrane bioreactor -- MF microfiltration -- MIEX® magnetic ion-exchange resin -- MS mass spectroscopy -- MW molecular weight -- MWCO molecular weight cut-off -- MWD molecular weight distribution -- NF nanofiltration -- NDMA N-nitrosodimethylamine -- NMR nuclear magnetic resonance -- NOM natural organic matter -- PAC powdered activated carbon -- pEfOM particulate effluent organic matter -- PPCPs pharmaceuticals and personal care products residues -- RO reverse osmosis -- SBR sequencing batch reactor -- SEC size-exclusion chromatography -- SMPs soluble microbial products -- SRT solid retention time -- SUVA specific UV absorbance at 254 nm -- THMs trihalomethanes -- TSS total suspended solids -- UAPs utilization-associated products -- UF ultrafiltration -- USEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency -- UV254 ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm -- UV/Vis ultraviolet/visible spectrometry -- WWTPs wastewater treatment plants -- WET whole effluent toxicity -- WHO World Health Organization; Water -- Pollution -- Research -- Periodicals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2015.03.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0043-1354

Abstract

Abstract: Wastewater reuse is currently considered globally as the most critical element of sustainable water management. The dissolved effluent organic matter (dEf OM) present in biologically treated urban wastewater, consists of a heterogeneous mixture of refractory organic compounds with diverse structures and varying origin, including dissolved natural organic matter, soluble microbial products, endocrine disrupting compounds, pharmaceuticals and personal care products residues, disinfection by-products, metabolites/transformation products and others, which can reach the aquatic environment through discharge and reuse applications. dEf OM constitutes the major fraction of the effluent organic matter (Ef OM) and due to its chemical complexity, it is necessary to utilize a battery of complementary techniques to adequately describe its structural and functional character. dEf OM has been shown to exhibit contrasting effects towards various aquatic organisms. It decreases metal uptake, thus potentially reducing their bioavailability to exposed organisms. On the other hand, dEf OM can be adsorbed on cell membranes inducing toxic effects. This review paper evaluates the performance of various advanced treatment processes (i.e., membrane filtration and separation processes, activated carbon adsorption, ion-exchange resin process, and advanced chemical oxidation processes) in removing dEf OM from wastewater effluents. In general, the literature findings reveal that dEf OM removal by advanced treatment processes depends on the type and the amount of organic compounds present in the aqueous matrix, as well as the operational parameters and the removal mechanisms taking place during the application of each treatment technology. Graphical abstract: Highlights: Effects and challenges associated with dEf OM and wastewater reuse are discussed. The efficiency of advanced treatment in removing dEf OM is assessed. dEf OM can reduce metal bioavailability or can induce toxicity to microorganisms. SMPs are mainly responsible for membrane fouling and formation of DBPs. UV-driven AOPs are an attractive option to minimize dEf OM.