🌍💼 Which method is best for removing micropollutants in water treatment? 📉⚙️ Micropollutants are emerging contaminants of concern i...
Published on by Hossein Ataei Far, Deputy Manager of the Research, Technology Development, and Industry Relations Center at NWWEC
⚙️ Micropollutants are emerging contaminants of concern in water at very low concentrations. They include pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and industrial chemicals.
🔎 Long-term exposure to micropollutants may pose risks to aquatic life and human health.
🔎 Many technologies with varying removal efficiencies have been proposed for removing micropollutants from water.
🔎 The risk quotient (RQ) method is a common approach used to prioritize micropollutants for removal based on their potential risk [1].
🔎 A review found 473 compounds were identified as priority micropollutants for removal out of 3466 chemicals screened, using the RQ method [1].
🔎 The RQ method provides a relatively simple procedure to screen large numbers of micropollutants and identify priority compounds that may require targeting for removal from water [1].
🔎 In one research study, ten study sites along the river were examined for the presence of four groups of organic micropollutants, including 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 32 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 27 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and 20 pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) [2].
🔎 The "Effort Index" (EI) is proposed by researchers to assess micropollutants, helping identify which ones are harder to remove with low-effort water treatment methods. It assists in prioritizing monitoring and reduction efforts. Average EI values can provide an overall water quality assessment, but data on removal by various treatment methods may not be available for all micropollutants. [3].
⚙️ For removing micropollutants from water, three categories of approaches are provided:
1. Usual techniques: Commonly used methods in water treatment like activated carbon adsorption, ozonation, etc. that have proven effectiveness for some micropollutants.
2. New technology methods: Emerging methods have been tested at pilot/small-scale and need more widespread application and testing for micropollutants.
3. Cutting-edge methods: Novel techniques still in the R&D phase or being tested in new ways, not implemented yet in full-scale water treatment.
⚙️In the first section of the next text, the efficacy of conventional procedures for several micropollutants is looked at, and in the following sections, two other approaches will be discussed.
🚥 To reduce micro-pollutants, focusing on river protection, sewage management, and river restoration is crucial. The Rhine River's improved water quality serves as a successful model for large-scale restoration projects.
🔗 References:
[1]. Yang, Y., Zhang, X., et al.(2021).
[2]. Yang, Y., Chen, Z., et al.(2021).
[3]. Pronk, T. E., Fischer, A., et al.(2023).
#Micropollutants #emergingcontaminants #watertreatment #riverrestoration
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