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Mofijur M, Hasan MM, Ahmed SF, Djavanroodi F, Fattah IMR, Silitonga AS, Kalam MA, Zhou JL, Khan TMY. Advances in identifying and managing emerging contaminants in aquatic ecosystems: Analytical approaches, toxicity assessment, transformation pathways, environmental fate, and remediation strategies. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 341:122889. [PMID: 37972679 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Emerging contaminants (ECs) are increasingly recognized as threats to human health and ecosystems. This review evaluates advanced analytical methods, particularly mass spectrometry, for detecting ECs and understanding their toxicity, transformation pathways, and environmental distribution. Our findings underscore the reliability of current techniques and the potential of upcoming methods. The adverse effects of ECs on aquatic life necessitate both in vitro and in vivo toxicity assessments. Evaluating the distribution and degradation of ECs reveals that they undergo physical, chemical, and biological transformations. Remediation strategies such as advanced oxidation, adsorption, and membrane bioreactors effectively treat EC-contaminated waters, with combinations of these techniques showing the highest efficacy. To minimize the impact of ECs, a proactive approach involving monitoring, regulations, and public education is vital. Future research should prioritize the refining of detection methods and formulation of robust policies for EC management.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Mofijur
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia.
| | - M M Hasan
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia; School of Engineering and Technology, Central Queensland University, QLD, 4701, Australia
| | - Shams Forruque Ahmed
- Science and Math Program, Asian University for Women, Chattogram, 4000, Bangladesh
| | - F Djavanroodi
- Mechanical Engineering Department, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, Al Khobar, 31952, Saudi Arabia
| | - I M R Fattah
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - A S Silitonga
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - M A Kalam
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - John L Zhou
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia; Centre for Green Technology, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - T M Yunus Khan
- Mechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
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Krzeminski P, Tomei MC, Karaolia P, Langenhoff A, Almeida CMR, Felis E, Gritten F, Andersen HR, Fernandes T, Manaia CM, Rizzo L, Fatta-Kassinos D. Performance of secondary wastewater treatment methods for the removal of contaminants of emerging concern implicated in crop uptake and antibiotic resistance spread: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 648:1052-1081. [PMID: 30340253 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 191] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Revised: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) discharged in effluents of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), not specifically designed for their removal, pose serious hazards to human health and ecosystems. Their impact is of particular relevance to wastewater disposal and re-use in agricultural settings due to CEC uptake and accumulation in food crops and consequent diffusion into the food-chain. This is the reason why the chemical CEC discussed in this review have been selected considering, besides recalcitrance, frequency of detection and entity of potential hazards, their relevance for crop uptake. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have been included as microbial CEC because of the potential of secondary wastewater treatment to offer conditions favourable to the survival and proliferation of ARB, and dissemination of ARGs. Given the adverse effects of chemical and microbial CEC, their removal is being considered as an additional design criterion, which highlights the necessity of upgrading conventional WWTPs with more effective technologies. In this review, the performance of currently applied biological treatment methods for secondary treatment is analysed. To this end, technological solutions including conventional activated sludge (CAS), membrane bioreactors (MBRs), moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBRs), and nature-based solutions such as constructed wetlands (CWs) are compared for the achievable removal efficiencies of the selected CEC and their potential of acting as reservoirs of ARB&ARGs. With the aim of giving a picture of real systems, this review focuses on data from full-scale and pilot-scale plants treating real urban wastewater. To achieve an integrated assessment, technologies are compared considering also other relevant evaluation parameters such as investment and management costs, complexity of layout and management, present scale of application and need of a post-treatment. Comparison results allow the definition of design and operation strategies for the implementation of CEC removal in WWTPs, when agricultural reuse of effluents is planned.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pawel Krzeminski
- Section of Systems Engineering and Technology, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, N-0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Maria Concetta Tomei
- Water Research Institute, C.N.R., Via Salaria km 29.300, CP 10, 00015 Monterotondo Stazione (Rome), Italy.
| | - Popi Karaolia
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Nireas-International Water Research Center, School of Engineering, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Alette Langenhoff
- Sub-department of Environmental Technology, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - C Marisa R Almeida
- CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research of the University of Porto, Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Ewa Felis
- Environmental Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Power and Environmental Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, ul. Akademicka 2, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
| | - Fanny Gritten
- CEBEDEAU, Research and Expertise Center for Water, Allée de la Découverte 11 (B53), Quartier Polytech 1, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Henrik Rasmus Andersen
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet 115, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Telma Fernandes
- Universidade Católica Portuguesa, CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina - Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Rua Arquiteto Lobão Vital, 172, 4200-374 Porto, Portugal
| | - Celia M Manaia
- Universidade Católica Portuguesa, CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina - Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Rua Arquiteto Lobão Vital, 172, 4200-374 Porto, Portugal
| | - Luigi Rizzo
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
| | - Despo Fatta-Kassinos
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Nireas-International Water Research Center, School of Engineering, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus
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Pathak N, Li S, Kim Y, Chekli L, Phuntsho S, Jang A, Ghaffour N, Leiknes T, Shon HK. Assessing the removal of organic micropollutants by a novel baffled osmotic membrane bioreactor-microfiltration hybrid system. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2018; 262:98-106. [PMID: 29702422 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2018.04.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Revised: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
A novel approach was employed to study removal of organic micropollutants (OMPs) in a baffled osmotic membrane bioreactor-microfiltration (OMBR-MF) hybrid system under oxicanoxic conditions. The performance of OMBR-MF system was examined employing three different draw solutes (DS), and three model OMPs. The highest forward osmosis (FO) membrane rejection was attained with atenolol (100%) due to its higher molar mass and positive charge. With inorganic DS caffeine (94-100%) revealed highest removal followed by atenolol (89-96%) and atrazine (16-40%) respectively. All three OMPs exhibited higher removal with organic DS as compared to inorganic DS. Significant anoxic removal was observed for atrazine under very different redox conditions with extended anoxic cycle time. This can be linked with possible development of different microbial consortia responsible for diverse enzymes secretion. Overall, the OMBR-MF process showed effective removal of total organic carbon (98%) and nutrients (phosphate 97% and total nitrogen 85%), respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirenkumar Pathak
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Post Box 129, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Sheng Li
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Biological & Environmental Science & Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Youngjin Kim
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Biological & Environmental Science & Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Laura Chekli
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Post Box 129, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Sherub Phuntsho
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Post Box 129, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Am Jang
- Graduate School of Water Resources, Sungkyunkwan University, 2066 Seobu-ro, Jangan-Gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-Do 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Noreddine Ghaffour
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Biological & Environmental Science & Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - TorOve Leiknes
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Biological & Environmental Science & Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ho Kyong Shon
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Post Box 129, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.
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Park J, Yamashita N, Tanaka H. Membrane fouling control and enhanced removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products by coagulation-MBR. CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 197:467-476. [PMID: 29366959 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.01.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Revised: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2018] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the effects of the addition of two coagulants-polyaluminium chloride (PACl) and chitosan-into the membrane bioreactor (MBR) process on membrane fouling and the removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). Their addition at optimized dosages improved the permeability of the membrane by reducing the concentration of soluble microbial products in mixed liquor, the content of inorganic elements, and irreversible fouling of the membrane surface. During long-term operation, the addition of PACl increased removal efficiencies of tetracycline, mefenamic acid, atenolol, furosemide, ketoprofen, and diclofenac by 17-23%. The comparative evaluation using mass balance calculations between coagulation-MBR (with PACl addition) and control-MBR (without PACl addition) showed that enhanced biodegradability played a key role in improving removal efficiencies of some PPCPs in coagulation-MBR. Coagulation-MBR also had higher oxygen uptake rates and specific nitrification rates of microorganisms. Overall, our findings suggest that the combination of MBR with coagulation reduced membrane fouling, lengthening operation period of the membrane, and improved the removal of some PPCPs as a result of enhanced biodegradability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junwon Park
- Research Center for Environmental Quality Management, Kyoto University, 1-2 Yumihama, Otsu, Shiga 520-0811, Japan; Division of Water Supply and Sewerage Research, National Institute of Environmental Research, Ministry of Environment, Incheon, 22689, South Korea.
| | - Naoyuki Yamashita
- Research Center for Environmental Quality Management, Kyoto University, 1-2 Yumihama, Otsu, Shiga 520-0811, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Tanaka
- Research Center for Environmental Quality Management, Kyoto University, 1-2 Yumihama, Otsu, Shiga 520-0811, Japan
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Ahmed MB, Zhou JL, Ngo HH, Guo W, Thomaidis NS, Xu J. Progress in the biological and chemical treatment technologies for emerging contaminant removal from wastewater: A critical review. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2017; 323:274-298. [PMID: 27143286 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.04.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 445] [Impact Index Per Article: 63.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2016] [Revised: 03/15/2016] [Accepted: 04/18/2016] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
This review focuses on the removal of emerging contaminants (ECs) by biological, chemical and hybrid technologies in effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Results showed that endocrine disruption chemicals (EDCs) were better removed by membrane bioreactor (MBR), activated sludge and aeration processes among different biological processes. Surfactants, EDCs and personal care products (PCPs) can be well removed by activated sludge process. Pesticides and pharmaceuticals showed good removal efficiencies by biological activated carbon. Microalgae treatment processes can remove almost all types of ECs to some extent. Other biological processes were found less effective in ECs removal from wastewater. Chemical oxidation processes such as ozonation/H2O2, UV photolysis/H2O2 and photo-Fenton processes can successfully remove up to 100% of pesticides, beta blockers and pharmaceuticals, while EDCs can be better removed by ozonation and UV photocatalysis. Fenton process was found less effective in the removal of any types of ECs. A hybrid system based on ozonation followed by biological activated carbon was found highly efficient in the removal of pesticides, beta blockers and pharmaceuticals. A hybrid ozonation-ultrasound system can remove up to 100% of many pharmaceuticals. Future research directions to enhance the removal of ECs have been elaborated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Boshir Ahmed
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - John L Zhou
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.
| | - Huu Hao Ngo
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Wenshan Guo
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Nikolaos S Thomaidis
- Department of Chemistry, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece
| | - Jiang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 3663 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai 200062, China
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Trinh T, van den Akker B, Coleman HM, Stuetz RM, Drewes JE, Le-Clech P, Khan SJ. Seasonal variations in fate and removal of trace organic chemical contaminants while operating a full-scale membrane bioreactor. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 550:176-183. [PMID: 26815294 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.12.083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Revised: 12/18/2015] [Accepted: 12/18/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Trace organic chemical (TrOC) contaminants are of concern for finished water from water recycling schemes because of their potential adverse environmental and public health effects. Understanding the impacts of seasonal variations on fate and removal of TrOCs is important for proper operation, risk assessment and management of treatment systems for water recycling such as membrane bioreactors (MBRs). Accordingly, this study investigated the fate and removal of a wide range of TrOCs through a full-scale MBR plant during summer and winter seasons. TrOCs included 12 steroidal hormones, 3 xeno-estrogens, 2 pesticides and 23 pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Seasonal differences in the mechanisms responsible for removing some of the TrOCs were evident. In particular the contribution of biotransformation and biomass adsorption to the overall removal of estrone, bisphenol A, 17β-estradiol and triclosan were consistently different between the two seasons. Substantially higher percentage removal via biotransformation was observed during the summer sampling period, which compensated for a reduction in removal attributed to biomass adsorption. The opposite was observed during winter, where the contribution of biotransformation to the overall removal of these TrOCs had decreased, which was offset by an improvement in biomass adsorption. The exact mechanisms responsible for this shift are unknown, however are likely to be temperature related as warmer temperatures can lower sorption efficiency, yet enhance biotransformation of these TrOCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trang Trinh
- UNSW Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia; UNESCO Centre for Membrane Science and Technology, University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia
| | - Ben van den Akker
- UNSW Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia
| | - Heather M Coleman
- UNSW Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia; Nanotechnology and Integrated Bioengineering Centre, University of Ulster, Jordanstown, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Richard M Stuetz
- UNSW Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia
| | - Jörg E Drewes
- UNSW Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia; Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Garching/München, Germany
| | - Pierre Le-Clech
- UNESCO Centre for Membrane Science and Technology, University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia.
| | - Stuart J Khan
- UNSW Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia
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