Emerging pollutants removal in full-scale biological treatment plants: A case study

• Published in: Journal of water process engineering 2023-02, Vol.51, p.103336, Article 103336
• Main Authors: Ulucan-Altuntas, Kubra, Manav-Demir, Neslihan, Ilhan, Fatih, Gelgor, Huseyin Baran, Huddersman, Katherine, Tiwary, Abhishek, Debik, Eyup
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological wastewater treatment; Emerging compounds; Non-target analysis; Wastewater treatment plants
• ISSN: 2214-7144; 2214-7144
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2022.103336

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are the main source of emerging pollutants encountered in surface water, albeit existing standards apply to a very limited number of emerging compounds. This paper presents a case study on non-target analysis, performed on influent and effluent samples from the WWTPs in Kocaeli, Türkiye. The samples were concentrated through solid-phase extraction, followed by LC-MS/MS analysis to identify emerging compounds, typically found in wastewater and treated wastewater. The data obtained was evaluated based on wastewater characteristics and the flow rate of the selected WWTPs. The removal of detected emerging compounds was calculated and classified as — “not removed”, and “partially removed”. Our analysis showed pharmaceutics as the most prevalent detected compounds, with the highest level of removal efficiency. The study demonstrated the necessity for redesigning conventional WWTPs to reduce the potential escape of emerging pollutants, with potential accumulation and transformation into harmful by-products in the environment. [Display omitted] •Three different WWTPs receiving varying wastewater characteristics are considered.•Wastewaters were received from the residential, industrial zone and both zones.•Non-target analysis was performed to detect unknown emerging compounds in 3 WWTPs.•More than 28 emerging compounds and their transformation products were identified.•The removal rates were compared according to wastewater and WWTPs characteristics.