A review on occurrences, eco-toxic effects, and remediation of emerging contaminants from wastewater: Special emphasis on biological treatment based hybrid systems. Issue 4 (August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Saidulu, Duduku; Gupta, Bramha; Gupta, Ashok Kumar; Ghosal, Partha Sarathi
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental chemical engineering. Volume 9:Issue 4(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-08
• Subjects: ADI Average daily intake -- AOP Advanced oxidation process -- ASP Activated sludge process -- CWs Constructed wetlands -- DWEL Drinking water equivalent limits -- DWTP Drinking water treatment plant -- ECs Emerging contaminants -- EDCs Endocrine-disrupting chemicals -- F/M Food to microorganism ratio -- HRT Hydraulic retention time -- Kbio Biomass normalized rate constant -- Kd Solid-water distribution coefficient -- log KOW Octanol-water partition coefficient -- MBBR Moving bed bioreactor -- MBR Membrane bioreactor -- OLR Organic loading rate -- PCPs personal care products -- PhACs Pharmaceutically active compounds -- pKa Dissociation constant -- PNEC Predict no-effect concentration -- SRT Sludge retention time -- TF Trickling filter -- UASB Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket -- WWTP Wastewater treatment plant; Emerging contaminants -- Eco-toxicological effects -- Drinking water equivalent limit -- Biological techniques -- Hybrid systems; Chemical engineering -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental engineering -- Periodicals; Chemical engineering -- Environmental aspects; Environmental engineering; Periodicals; 660.0286
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2021.105282
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2213-2929

Abstract

Abstract: The ubiquitous presence of emerging contaminants (ECs), such as pharmaceutically active compounds, personal care products, pesticides, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, etc., in the aquatic environment and their harmful impacts on the biosphere, is a global concern. Subsequently, removal of these persistent and eco-toxic compounds from wastewater is also a significant thrust area in environmental management. This paper presents an overview of genesis, pathways, and eco-toxicological effects of various ECs, and their management practices as well. The presence of many of these pernicious compounds in different regions across the globe is observed with a concentration exceeding the predicted no-effect concentration and calculated drinking water equivalent limit. Given the limitations of the conventional biological system concerning the recalcitrant and biocide nature of many of the ECs, the advanced biological system coupled with physical and chemical processes is emerging as the promising treatment option. Here, the performance analysis of several biological processes as well as the integrated treatment systems are extensively conducted highlighting their design and operational parameters, removal mechanisms, and criticality in hybridization techniques targeting the enhanced ECs removal. Among them, a combination of biological-chemical systems has shown better performance for the removal of ECs even achieving a complete removal in field scale systems. The present review catalyzes the research and its application in the real-life scenario for the treatment and management of ECs and brings forth a pragmatic solution to the policymakers and water engineers. Graphical Abstract: ga1 Highlights: The presence of recalcitrant and toxic ECs in water resources is a global concern. Health concerns from many ECs due to occurrence of more than PNEC and DWEL values. Enzymatic degradation and sorption are major mechanisms in biological treatment. HRT, OLR, SRT, aeration rate, etc. are influencing factors for biological process. Hybrid systems based on biological and physicochemical processes enhance ECs removal.