Wastewater treatment processes for the removal of emerging organic pollutants

  • Ainhoa Rubio Clemente Universidad de Antioquia
  • Edwin Lenin Chica Arrieta Universidad de Antioquia
  • Gustavo Antonio Peñuela Mesa Universidad de Antioquia
Keywords: water pollution, biodegradation, advanced oxidation processes

Abstract

Emerging organic pollutants form a very heterogeneous group of substances that have negative effects on aquatic organisms, so they should be removed from the environment. Unfortunately, conventional processes in wastewater treatment plants, especially biological ones, are inefficient in the degradation of these substances. It is therefore necessary to evaluate and optimize the effectiveness of the treatments, including advanced oxidation and membrane filtration processes. However, both techniques have drawbacks that may limit their stand-alone application, so it is proposed that the best solution may be to combine these technologies with biological processes to treat wastewater contaminated with emerging organic pollutants.

Author Biographies

Ainhoa Rubio Clemente, Universidad de Antioquia
Licenciada en Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad de Salamanca, Funcionaria Docente del Cuerpo de Profesores de la Junta de Extremadura. España. Estudiante de Doctorado en Ingeniería Ambiental. Grupo GDCON. Sede de Investigaciones Universitarias (SIU). Univesidad de Antioquia. Medellín. Colombia.
Edwin Lenin Chica Arrieta, Universidad de Antioquia
PhD, MSc. Profesor del Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica. Facultad de Ingeniería. Universidad de Antioquia. Medellín. Colombia.
Gustavo Antonio Peñuela Mesa, Universidad de Antioquia
PhD., MSc. Director del Grupo GDCON, Profesor del Departamento de Ingeniería Ambiental, Facultad de Ingeniería, Sede de Investigaciones Universitarias (SIU), Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
Published
19/12/2013
Section
Papers