Current research progress in the biological removal of emerging contaminants from the water environment

Abstract

ABSTRACT Hazardous pollutants include a variety of pollutants, including emerging contaminants (ECs), organic pollutants, inorganic pollutants, and heavy metals. Scientists have lately become interested in ECs in effluent because they represent serious hazards to both biodiversity and human health even at low concentrations. For the elimination of different ECs, several treatment technologies, including chemical-based, physical-based, and biological-based methods, have been developed. Nonetheless, no one technique can presently efficiently eradicate ECs; biological treatments are frequently found to be more beneficial. This review aims to give a brief analysis of the sources, kinds, impacts, and monitoring and detection techniques for ECs. This review provides information on such biological processes for the quick and eco-friendly removal methods of ECs from effluent. The article highlights the methodology used by the hybrid system to eliminate distinct EC types. The hybrid structure of a membrane bioreactor (MBR) accompanied by filtrations using membrane successfully got rid of a bunch of ECs. For the biosorptive elimination of pharmaceuticals various hybrid structures comprising constructed wetlands (CWs) and waste stabilization ponds demonstrated amazing possibilities. Future directions of study for the elimination of ECs using green, sustainable technologies and hybrid techniques have been proposed.