Critical Review of Wastewater Treatment Technologies and Future Trends

This report critically reviews different wastewater treatment technologies. It begins with an introduction to the importance of water treatment and the increasing global water scarcity. The report then details the sources of wastewater, major contaminants, and associated health risks, including the impact of emerging contaminants. It explores biological treatment methods, discussing their design, operation, energy consumption, and cost issues, with a focus on the removal of phenolic compounds. The oxidation processes are then examined, including advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) like UV/H2O2 and UV/H2O2/O3, and their application in removing pollutants like phenol, while considering energy consumption and operational costs. Finally, the report delves into reverse osmosis (RO) processes for wastewater treatment, including the removal of nitrosamines, with a focus on design, operation, energy consumption, cost issues, and operating parameters. The report concludes with a critical review of these technologies, discussing factors that may influence their future adoption and effectiveness in addressing wastewater treatment challenges.