We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Comparison of the Quaternary Treatment Technologies in Municipal Wastewater Purification
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers compared multiple quaternary treatment technologies — advanced filtration, UV, ozone, and activated carbon — for removing micropollutants from municipal wastewater effluent, assessing removal efficiency, cost, and energy requirements. No single technology excelled across all contaminant classes, supporting combined treatment approaches.
The removal of micropollutants during wastewater treatment is an essential element of pollution control due to the last amendment of the Directive 91/271/EEC. Reducing and control at the source is usually the most cost-effective measure for a given substance or group of substances, but wastewater treatment plants with load above 150.000 PE (and between 10.000 and 150.000 PE based on the recieving watercourse or environmental risk assessment) have to reduce and remove the micropollutant in the future. The treatment plants have to install technologies which are optimal to eliminate the micropollutant (fourth stage or quaternary treatment technologies). The main quaternary treatment technologies are the different form of activated carbon filtration, membrane technologies (e.g. nanofiltration or reverse osmosis) and Advanced Oxidation Processes, AOP (e.g. ozone treatment). Among the options available for the removal of micropollutants, the most cost-effective solutions are activated carbon processes, ozone treatment, and their combination in different process configurations. At present, the combination of ozone treatment and activated carbon filtration is an effective technology to degrade the micropollutants, also the antibiotic resistant genes, and also remove the harmful by-products from the AOP treatment. For each wastewater treatment plant, it is necessary to individually examine which technology will be the most optimal to accomplish the new requirements.
More Papers Like This
Are Advanced Wastewater Treatment Technologies a Solution for Total Removal of Microplastics in Treated Effluents?
AI summary Read the abstract
This review evaluates whether advanced wastewater treatment technologies — including filtration, ozonation, and activated carbon — can fully remove microplastics from effluent. Researchers conclude that while advanced treatments significantly reduce microplastic concentrations, complete removal remains technically challenging and economically demanding.
Tertiary/quaternary treatment of urban wastewater by UV/H2O2 or ozonation: Microplastics may affect removal of E. coli and contaminants of emerging concern
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how polyethylene microplastics interfere with UV/hydrogen peroxide and ozonation treatments used to disinfect urban wastewater. They found that increasing microplastic concentrations reduced the effectiveness of both treatment methods at killing E. coli bacteria and degrading pharmaceutical contaminants. The study suggests that microplastic pollution in wastewater could compromise advanced treatment processes designed to protect public health.
Occurrence and removal of microplastics by advanced and conventional drinking water treatment facilities
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers assessed microplastic occurrence and removal efficiency at drinking water treatment plants using both conventional and advanced treatment processes. Advanced treatment steps such as ultrafiltration and activated carbon significantly improved microplastic removal compared to conventional coagulation and filtration alone.
Hybrid Wastewater Treatment: Efficiency and Challenges in Microplastic Removal
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed laboratory, pilot, and full-scale evidence for hybrid wastewater treatment configurations — combining membrane bioreactors, coagulation-flocculation, electrocoagulation, ozonation, and advanced filtration — finding near-complete microplastic removal is achievable, though fibers and particles below 100 µm remain the most persistent fraction across all treatment combinations.
Occurrence and removal of microplastics by advanced and conventional drinking water treatment facilities
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers evaluated the performance of both advanced and conventional drinking water treatment processes for removing microplastics, finding that advanced methods such as ultrafiltration substantially outperform standard coagulation and filtration. Most conventional treatment plants leave a meaningful fraction of microplastics in finished drinking water.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.