When aerobic granular sludge faces emerging contaminants: A review

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Environmental Engineering
• Microbiology

Background:

• Emerging contaminants (ECs) pose significant challenges to conventional biological wastewater treatment.
• Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) is a promising technology for advanced wastewater treatment.
• The effectiveness and mechanisms of AGS in removing diverse ECs require comprehensive understanding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in the removal of representative ECs by AGS systems.
• To elucidate the biodegradation and adsorption mechanisms of ECs within AGS.
• To highlight the role of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in EC removal and AGS stability.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent studies on ECs in AGS systems.
• Analysis of biodegradation pathways and adsorption characteristics of various ECs.
• Investigation of EC interactions and the influence of EPS.

Main Results:

• AGS demonstrates potential for removing persistent organic pollutants, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, antibiotics, and microplastics.
• Biodegradation and adsorption are key mechanisms for EC removal in AGS.
• EPS plays a crucial role in AGS stability and EC sequestration.

Conclusions:

• AGS technology holds significant potential for the effective removal of emerging contaminants.
• Further research is needed to address knowledge gaps for practical, large-scale AGS implementation.
• This review provides a mechanistic understanding and guidance for optimizing AGS for EC removal.