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Increased population density, industrialization, and the widespread use of agrochemicals have significantly contributed to water pollution from both point and non-point sources. According to UN estimates (2021), approximately 80% of wastewater worldwide is discharged untreated, introducing micropollutants such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides, hormones, industrial chemicals, and agrochemicals into water systems. Even in trace amounts, these micropollutants pose serious risks to ecosystems and human health. Biological wastewater treatment methods, including the activated sludge process and biofilm systems, are commonly employed, but they often exhibit limited effectiveness in degrading micropollutants. One of the primary challenges is that many micropollutants are resistant to microbial degradation due to their complex chemical structures. Additionally, the non-uniform distribution of microbial biomass, low hydraulic retention time, and fluctuating physio-chemical conditions such as pH and temperature further hinder the biodegradation process. A study by the European Environment Agency (EEA, European Environment Agency. (2022). Europe’s air quality status 2022. Retrieved from https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/status-of-air-quality-in-Europe-2022 .) found that more than 60% of micropollutants persist through conventional biological treatment systems, contributing to long-term environmental contamination. This chapter explores strategies to overcome these challenges. One approach is bioaugmentation, which involves the deliberate introduction of specific microbial strains capable of breaking down recalcitrant compounds. Furthermore, the integration of biological processes with Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs), Membrane Bioreactors (MBRs), and activated carbon adsorption is being investigated to improve micropollutant elimination. However, these advanced methods face challenges, including high operational costs, biostability concerns, and scalability issues, which require further research and optimization for widespread application.

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Biological Wastewater Treatment: Overcoming Barriers in Micropollutant Degradation

  • 章节

  • 发表日期：

    2025年

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  • Saithala Mounika,
  • B. B. Nayak,
  • P. N. Siva Prasad,
  • G. Sree Pooja

摘要

Increased population density, industrialization, and the widespread use of agrochemicals have significantly contributed to water pollution from both point and non-point sources. According to UN estimates (2021), approximately 80% of wastewater worldwide is discharged untreated, introducing micropollutants such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides, hormones, industrial chemicals, and agrochemicals into water systems. Even in trace amounts, these micropollutants pose serious risks to ecosystems and human health. Biological wastewater treatment methods, including the activated sludge process and biofilm systems, are commonly employed, but they often exhibit limited effectiveness in degrading micropollutants. One of the primary challenges is that many micropollutants are resistant to microbial degradation due to their complex chemical structures. Additionally, the non-uniform distribution of microbial biomass, low hydraulic retention time, and fluctuating physio-chemical conditions such as pH and temperature further hinder the biodegradation process. A study by the European Environment Agency (EEA, European Environment Agency. (2022). Europe’s air quality status 2022. Retrieved from https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/status-of-air-quality-in-Europe-2022 .) found that more than 60% of micropollutants persist through conventional biological treatment systems, contributing to long-term environmental contamination. This chapter explores strategies to overcome these challenges. One approach is bioaugmentation, which involves the deliberate introduction of specific microbial strains capable of breaking down recalcitrant compounds. Furthermore, the integration of biological processes with Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs), Membrane Bioreactors (MBRs), and activated carbon adsorption is being investigated to improve micropollutant elimination. However, these advanced methods face challenges, including high operational costs, biostability concerns, and scalability issues, which require further research and optimization for widespread application.