Biological treatment of emerging organic micropollutants in wastewater: Recent advances and perspectives

The review paper comprehensively evaluates the progress and challenges in the biological removal of emerging organic micropollutants (EOMs) such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, endocrine-disrupting compounds, industrial chemicals, and pesticides from wastewater. Traditional wastewater treatment plants, primarily designed for conventional pollutants, often fail to adequately remove these persistent and bioactive substances, raising concerns over ecological and human health impacts. This review explores the efficacy of various biological treatment processes, including conventional methods like activated sludge and trickling filters, and advanced technologies such as membrane bioreactors (MBRs), biofilm-based systems, and hybrid systems. While conventional methods offer moderate efficiency, advanced processes demonstrate significantly enhanced EOM removal due to their improved biodegradation and sorption capabilities. However, the long-term sustainability and practical applicability of these advanced methods remain areas of concern. The paper highlights the need for further research on the interaction effects of mixed EOMs, the formation of harmful transformation products, and the economic and operational feasibility of these technologies in real-world settings. The review proposes future research directions focused on developing novel hybrid treatment technologies and real-time monitoring systems to ensure more effective and sustainable EOM removal, ultimately aiming to safeguard water quality and public health.