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Micropollutants in Wastewater: Legislative Push and Technological Response
Summary
This review addressed the challenge that conventional wastewater treatment plants fail to remove micropollutants—including pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and endocrine disruptors—adequately, and examined how legislation is driving investment in advanced treatment technologies. The authors found that ozonation, activated carbon filtration, and advanced oxidation processes show the best performance but require major capital investment.
Micropollutants, including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and industrial chemicals, are increasingly detected in aquatic environments at trace concentrations, posing significant ecological and health risks. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are recognized as major sources of these contaminants, as conventional treatment technologies are often ineffective in their removal. In response, the European Union has revised the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (EU Directive 2024/3019), mandating stricter removal targets and the implementation of quaternary treatment stages. This article explores the environmental implications of micropollutants and evaluates advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) as a promising solution. AOPs, including UV/H₂O₂, ozonation, and photocatalysis, offer high degradation efficiency and minimal sludge production. Recent innovations such as UV-LED systems, plasma-assisted oxidation, and AI-optimized hybrid reactors have further enhanced AOP performance. A case study on levofloxacin demonstrates the effectiveness of ozonation in improving biodegradability and reducing toxicity. The integration of AOPs into WWTPs, supported by extended producer responsibility schemes, represents a critical step toward sustainable water management and compliance with evolving EU regulations.
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