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When aerobic granular sludge faces emerging contaminants: A review
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This review examines how aerobic granular sludge technology performs when confronted with emerging contaminants including persistent organic pollutants, endocrine disruptors, antibiotics, and microplastics in wastewater treatment. The study highlights that aerobic granular sludge shows strong application potential through biodegradation and adsorption mechanisms, with extracellular polymeric substances playing a critical role in both sludge stability and contaminant removal.
The evolution of emerging contaminants (ECs) has caused greater requirements and challenges to the current biological wastewater treatment technology. As one of the most promising biological treatment technologies, the aerobic granular sludge (AGS) process also faces the challenge of ECs. This study summarizes the recent progress and characteristics of several representative ECs (persistent organic pollutants, endocrine disrupting chemicals, antibiotics, and microplastics) in AGS systems that have garnered widespread attention. Additionally, the biodegradation and adsorption mechanisms of ECs were discussed, and the interactions between various ECs and AGS was elucidated. The importance of extracellular polymeric substances for the stabilization of AGS and the removal of ECs is also discussed. Knowledge gaps and future research directions that may enable the practical application of AGS are highlighted. Overall, AGS processes show great application potential and this review provides guidance for the future implementation of AGS technology as well as elucidating the mechanism of its interaction with ECs.
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Advances in the Application of Aerobic Granular Sludge for the Removal of Emerging Contaminants in Municipal and Industrial Wastewater
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This review examines the use of aerobic granular sludge technology for removing emerging contaminants from wastewater, including pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, microplastics, and PFAS compounds. Researchers report removal efficiencies of 74-95% for microplastics and over 85% for PFAS using this approach. The study notes that while the technology shows significant promise, large-scale implementation still faces operational and scaling challenges that require further research.
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Researchers investigated how polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene microplastics at varying concentrations affect treatment efficiency, granule morphology, extracellular polymer production, microbial species composition, and metabolic activity in aerobic granular sludge reactors used for wastewater treatment. The study tested four hypotheses regarding MP effects on both the biological performance and structural integrity of aerobic granular sludge as a promising technology for MP-contaminated wastewater.
Mechanisms underlying the detrimental impact of micro(nano)plastics on the stability of aerobic granular sludge: Interactions between micro(nano)plastics and extracellular polymeric substances
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Researchers found that both micro- and nanoplastics at realistic concentrations harmed the performance of aerobic granular sludge, a technology used for wastewater treatment, by reducing its ability to remove nitrogen. The plastic particles interacted with the sticky substances that hold the sludge granules together, weakening their structural integrity. The study reveals a specific mechanism by which plastic pollution can undermine wastewater treatment systems that communities rely on for clean water.
Emerging organic contaminants in sewage sludge: Current status, technological challenges and regulatory perspectives
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This review examines how sewage sludge accumulates harmful organic pollutants including microplastics, hormone-disrupting chemicals, and pharmaceutical residues that threaten the environment and human health. Current treatment methods struggle to fully break down these contaminants, and the byproducts of treatment may carry their own ecological risks, highlighting the need for better technology and stronger regulations.
Selection of bacterial strains to bioaugment granular sludge and improve the removal of recalcitrant pollutants
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This study evaluated bacterial strains that can be added to granular sludge in wastewater treatment plants to improve removal of hard-to-treat pollutants. Enhanced biological treatment could improve removal of microplastics and associated contaminants from wastewater before discharge.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.