Next Materials (Jun 2023)
Removal of micro-organic contaminants from wastewater: A critical review of treatment technology
Abstract
Micro-organic contaminants in water have the characteristics of relatively low concentration and degradation, given their stable structures. Ecological balance and human metabolism can be severely affected by their accumulation in the food chain. Besides, extensive human activities and industrialization have accelerated their transmission and accumulation in the environment. So there is an urgent need to treat micro-organic contaminants in water. This review focused on the methods and mechanisms of removing micro-organic contaminants, including biodegradation, advanced oxidation, adsorption, and membrane separation. Notably, the application of membrane separation and its integrated technology in removing micro-organic contaminants, which is less covered in the previous studies. This review also introduced the previous study of developing modified ultrafiltration membranes for simultaneously removing both large- and small-molecule contaminants. These modified ultrafiltration membranes can be applied to remove micro-organic contaminants and are expected to broaden the application of ultrafiltration.