Modelling of micropollutant removal in biological wastewater treatments: A review

Modelling the fate of micropollutants through wastewater treatment plants is of present concern. Indeed, such a tool is useful to increase the removal of micropollutants and reduce their release to the environment. In this paper, 18 literature models describing micropollutant removal in activated sludge processes were reviewed. Investigated micropollutants were mainly volatile organic compounds, metals, surfactants, pesticides and pharmaceutical compounds. This work provides a detailed insight about the main mechanisms leading to the micropollutant removal (volatilisation, sorption, biodegradation, cometabolism), the associated mathematical equations and the parameter values found in the literature. A critical analysis was carried out to evaluate the conditions and the domain of validity for which each model was set-up. We also propose (i) an inventory of the experimental methodologies applied to determine the values of model parameters, (ii) a critical study of the main differences between models and (iii) suggestions for a standardisation of calibration methodologies. Finally, this review highlights the lack of explanation concerning the domain of validity of the models and proposes future developments to improve modelling of micropollutant removal in wastewater treatment plants. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.