From traditional adsorption processes to bioremediation: Modern technologies for purifying natural waters from pollutants

The relevance of the study is determined by the fact that human activity has led to an increase in the anthropogenic impact on the environment. Various pollutants from a large number of discharges of municipal, industrial and medical wastewater are ubiquitous in the natural aquatic environment. Emerging pollutants are synthetic or naturally occurring chemicals or any microorganisms that are not normally monitored in the environment. But emerging pollutants may enter the environment and cause known or suspected adverse environmental or human health effects. The complexity of using traditional methods of natural water treatment is associated with the problems of scaling up treatment systems and regenerating or disposing of by-products. Most of the research on the purification of natural water bodies in recent years has focused on the use of phase change processes, including adsorption in various solid matrices and ion exchange, the use of membrane filtration, phytotechnology, chemical and biological treatment methods, and advanced oxidation processes. High efficiency is shown by adsorption purification of water bodies using combined natural filtration systems, in which physical processes of sorption and chemical processes of biodegradation are combined. An effective ecological and engineering solution is the restoration of freshwater bodies using artificially created floating wetlands. The advantage of biological methods as the most used and successful, due to their high efficiency and environmental friendliness, is shown. A review of current technologies available to remove emerging pollutants from water ecosystems showed that different physical, chemical and biological processes are involved. The development of scientific research on the prevalence of hazardous pollutants in the environment is the result of the increased attention of scientists to environmental problems aimed at promoting a more rational use of natural resources.