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Wastewater chemical contaminants: remediation by advanced oxidation processes

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Abstract

Approximately 70% of the terrestrial area is covered with water, but only a small water fraction is compatible with terrestrial life forms. Due to the increment in human consumption, the need for water resources is increasing, and it is estimated that more than 40% of the population worldwide will face water stress/scarcity within the next few decades. Water recycling and reuse may offer the opportunity to expand water resources. For that, the wastewater treatment paradigm should be changed and adequately treated wastewater should be seen as a valuable resource instead of a waste product. It is easily understandable that the exact composition and constituent concentration of wastewater vary according to its different sources (industrial, agricultural, urban usage of water). Consequently, a variety of known and emerging pollutants like heavy metals, antibiotics, pesticides, phthalates, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, halogenated compounds and endocrine disruptors have been found in natural water reservoirs, due to the limited effectiveness of conventional wastewater treatment. The conventional approach consists of a combination of physical, chemical and biological processes, aiming at the removal of large sediments such as heavier solids, scum and grease and of organic content in order to avoid the growth of microorganisms and eutrophication of the receiving water bodies. However, this approach is not sufficient to reduce the chemical pollutants and much less the emerging chemical pollutants. In this review, after some considerations concerning chemical pollutants and the problematic efficiency of their removal by conventional methods, an update is presented on the successes and challenges of novel approaches for wastewater remediation based on advanced oxidation processes. An insight into wastewater remediation involving the photodynamic approach mediated by tetrapyrrolic derivatives will be underlined.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the University of Aveiro, to FCT/MEC for the financial support to the Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) unit (project Pest-C/MAR/LA0017/2013) and the QOPNA research unit (FCT UID/QUI/ 00062/2013), through national funds, co-financed by the FEDER, within the PT2020 Partnership Agreement, and to the Portuguese NMR Network. M. B. is thankful to the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) for her Ph.D. Grant (SFRH/BD/121645/2016).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

    M. Bartolomeu & A. Almeida

  2. Department of Chemistry and QOPNA, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

    M. G. P. M. S. Neves & M. A. F. Faustino

Authors
  1. M. Bartolomeu
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  2. M. G. P. M. S. Neves
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  3. M. A. F. Faustino
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  4. A. Almeida
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Correspondence to M. A. F. Faustino or A. Almeida.

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Bartolomeu, M., Neves, M.G.P.M.S., Faustino, M.A.F. et al. Wastewater chemical contaminants: remediation by advanced oxidation processes. Photochem Photobiol Sci 17, 1573–1598 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1039/c8pp00249e

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