Predicting and improving the microbial removal of organic micropollutants during wastewater treatment: A review

Organic micropollutants (OMPs) consist of widely used chemicals such as pharmaceuticals and pesticides that can persist in surface and groundwaters at low concentrations (ng/L to mu g/L) for a long time. The presence of OMPs in water can disrupt aquatic ecosystems and threaten the quality of drinking water sources. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) rely on microorganisms to remove major nutrients from water, but their effectiveness at removing OMPs varies. Low removal efficiency might be the result of low concentrations, inherent stable chemical structures of OMPs, or suboptimal conditions in WWTPs. In this review, we discuss these factors, with special emphasis on the ongoing adaptation of microorganisms to degrade OMPs. Finally, recommendations are drawn to improve the prediction of OMP removal in WWTPs and to optimize the design of new microbial treatment strategies. OMP removal seems to be concentration-, compound-, and process-dependent, which poses a great complexity to develop accurate prediction models and effective microbial processes targeting all OMPs.

Automated summary

Organic micropollutants (OMPs), including pharmaceuticals and pesticides, can persist in water at low concentrations and pose a threat to aquatic ecosystems and drinking water quality. The effectiveness of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in removing OMPs varies due to factors such as low concentrations, stable chemical structures, and suboptimal conditions. This review discusses these factors, focusing on the adaptation of microorganisms to degrade OMPs. Recommendations are made to improve prediction models and optimize microbial treatment strategies for OMP removal.