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Applied Sciences
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Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Water: Occurrence, Fate and Removal
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Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Water: Occurrence, Fate and Removal

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 January 2022) | Viewed by 43897

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Rui C. Martins

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Guest Editor
CERES, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: ozonation; catalytic ozonation; wastewater treatment; advanced oxidation processes; drinking water treatment; water recovery; photocatalysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. João Gomes

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Guest Editor
CERES, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: ozonation; catalytic ozonation; wastewater treatment; advanced oxidation processes; biofiltration; circular economy; photocatalysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. André Pereira

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Guest Editor
LAQV, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Bromatology and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Polo III, Azinhaga de Stª Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: environmental contaminants; contaminants of emerging concern; pharmaceuticals; aquatic environment; occurrence and fate; environmental risk assessment; human risk assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With escalating population growth, intensified agricultural and industrial activity, and climate change, water scarcity will tend to increase, endangering future water resource sustainability. The need for alternative freshwater sources is leading to a new paradigm with the necessity of more reclaimed water reuse where municipal wastewater effluents must be considered as a component of water supply. There is an urgent need for protecting water ecosystems due to their interconnection with the environment and human and animal health (the One Health concept).

In this regard, special attention must be given to contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), e.g., pharmaceutical active compounds; other chemical CECs; as well as bacteria, namely, antibiotic resistant bacteria, viruses, and protozoa, due to their potential impact on public health. In fact, municipal wastewater treatment plants (MWWTPs) are a major source of these contaminants. So that a good environmental status of aquatic ecosystems may be reached, actions must be taken to improve treated-water quality. Detection techniques have been upgraded, which enables the identification and quantification of a wide range of emerging contaminants, increasing concern regarding their occurrence and fate.

Conventional wastewater treatments cannot face these compounds. Due to their refractory characteristics, suitable treatments need to be employed to avoid their presence in ecosystems and reduce their potential harm to public health.

Therefore, this Special Issue aims to focus on the occurrence and fate of CECs (either chemical or biological) in environment. Moreover, it aims to gather research regarding novel water and wastewater treatment methods for the abatement of such persistent and refractory compounds. Works related to the impact of CECs on ecosystems and public health are also welcome.

Dr. Rui C. Martins
Dr. João Gomes
Dr. André Pereira
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • contaminants of emerging concern
  • advanced water and wastewater treatment
  • toxicity assessment
  • public health
  • occurrence
  • fate
  • risk assessment

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 2719 KiB  
Article
Adsorption of Emerging Pollutant by Pecan Shell-Based Biosorbent
by Sabrina Grando Cordeiro, Ani Caroline Weber, Bruna Costa, Bruno Rampanelli Dahmer, Daniel Kuhn, Eduardo Miranda Ethur, Valeriano Antonio Corbellini and Lucélia Hoehne
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(18), 9211; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12189211 - 14 Sep 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1229
Abstract
The insertion of antibiotics in water resources results from anthropogenic sources; however, at residual concentrations, they characterize potential risks to the ecosystem, such as the emergence of multi-resistant bacteria. It is necessary to develop technologies to provide sustainable solutions for low- and middle-income [...] Read more.
The insertion of antibiotics in water resources results from anthropogenic sources; however, at residual concentrations, they characterize potential risks to the ecosystem, such as the emergence of multi-resistant bacteria. It is necessary to develop technologies to provide sustainable solutions for low- and middle-income countries. Thus, the present study aims to evaluate the ability to remove the antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CPX) with a biosorbent produced with pecan shells (PSB). The PSB structure was determined by scanning electron microscopy and spectroscopy in the infrared region by Fourier Transform. For adsorption assays, solutions of 10 mg L−1 of CPX were used. The results show that the process reaches equilibrium at 240 min, and follows the pseudo-second order model kinetic and the Freundlich equilibrium model. The increase in temperature and the pH variation of the solution strongly influence the process. In general, the adsorption of CPX using PS is a potential method for treating water and contaminated effluents, as well as being a low-cost method; this is because it uses a byproduct from the agricultural industry that results in a reduction of approximately 60% of the antibiotic load contained in the liquid effluent. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Water: Occurrence, Fate and Removal)
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20 pages, 2316 KiB  
Article
Characterization of Five Portuguese Wastewater Treatment Plants: Removal Efficiency of Pharmaceutical Active Compounds through Conventional Treatment Processes and Environmental Risk
by Sofia Silva, Vitor Vale Cardoso, Lúcia Duarte, Rui Neves Carneiro and Cristina Maria Martins Almeida
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(16), 7388; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11167388 - 11 Aug 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2437
Abstract
Due to the high consumption and incorrect disposal of pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs), they are recognized as contaminants of emerging concern. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) may be inefficient in removing PhACs, therefore discharging them into surface waters. The removal efficiencies of five WWTPs [...] Read more.
Due to the high consumption and incorrect disposal of pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs), they are recognized as contaminants of emerging concern. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) may be inefficient in removing PhACs, therefore discharging them into surface waters. The removal efficiencies of five WWTPs located in the south of Portugal (Alentejo) were evaluated in 2020. Twenty-six PhACs were analyzed in wastewater influents, effluents, and surface waters, upstream and downstream of the WWTPs by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass detection (UPLC-MS/MS). The most representative PhACs in influents were acetaminophen, caffeine, naproxen, ibuprofen, and diclofenac with minimum-maximum concentrations of 49–225 µg/L, 26–46 µg/L, 5.9–13 µg/L, 5.2–22 µg/L, and 1.3–2.5 µg/L, respectively. For effluents, it was acetaminophen, caffeine, and diclofenac with minimum-maximum concentrations of 0.054–7.8 µg/L, 0.084–4.8 µg/L, and 0.28–3.3 µg/L, respectively. The highest removal efficiencies were observed for acetaminophen, sulfadiazine, cortisone, testosterone, metoprolol, and propranolol (100%). The lowest removal efficiencies were observed for carbamazepine (2.7%) and diclofenac (−13.2%). The risk quotient of sulfamethoxazole and diclofenac were higher than 1 for receiving waters, indicating they probably pose high risks to aquatic organisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Water: Occurrence, Fate and Removal)
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11 pages, 423 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Human Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water Catchments, Tap and Drinking Fountain Waters
by André Pereira, Liliana Silva, Célia Laranjeiro and Angelina Pena
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(15), 7062; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11157062 - 30 Jul 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2603
Abstract
The occurrence of pharmaceuticals in water catchments and drinking waters raises potential risks to public health. Therefore, after addressing the major aquatic contamination pathway, the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), and, subsequently, surface waters, 18 human pharmaceuticals from 6 therapeutic groups (antibiotics, lipid regulators, [...] Read more.
The occurrence of pharmaceuticals in water catchments and drinking waters raises potential risks to public health. Therefore, after addressing the major aquatic contamination pathway, the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), and, subsequently, surface waters, 18 human pharmaceuticals from 6 therapeutic groups (antibiotics, lipid regulators, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and hormones) were analyzed in drinking water catchments, tap and drinking fountain waters. This was performed by solid phase extraction (SPE) and liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass detection (LC-MS/MS). The 97 samples analyzed were collected from 31 different sites in the center of Portugal. All samples presented concentrations below the method detection limits (MDLs) that ranged between 1.13 to 5.45 ng L−1. The achieved results contributed to a better knowledge on the Portuguese and European context of drinking water, since there is a knowledge gap regarding this matrix. Comparing our data with other studies, published worldwide, we can observe that median concentrations of pharmaceuticals were reported in the low ng L−1 levels, values close to our MDLs. Consequently, it is unlikely that, in light of the current knowledge, the presence of pharmaceuticals in drinking water presents a threat to human health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Water: Occurrence, Fate and Removal)
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Review

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35 pages, 115357 KiB  
Review
Removal of Pharmaceuticals from Water by Adsorption and Advanced Oxidation Processes: State of the Art and Trends
by Fatma Mansouri, Khawla Chouchene, Nicolas Roche and Mohamed Ksibi
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(14), 6659; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11146659 - 20 Jul 2021
Cited by 70 | Viewed by 12313
Abstract
Pharmaceutical products have become a necessary part of life. Several studies have demonstrated that indirect exposure of humans to pharmaceuticals through the water could cause negative effects. Raw sewage and wastewater effluents are the major sources of pharmaceuticals found in surface waters and [...] Read more.
Pharmaceutical products have become a necessary part of life. Several studies have demonstrated that indirect exposure of humans to pharmaceuticals through the water could cause negative effects. Raw sewage and wastewater effluents are the major sources of pharmaceuticals found in surface waters and drinking water. Therefore, it is important to consider and characterize the efficiency of pharmaceutical removal during wastewater and drinking-water treatment processes. Various treatment options have been investigated for the removal/reduction of drugs (e.g., antibiotics, NSAIDs, analgesics) using conventional or biological treatments, such as activated sludge processes or bio-filtration, respectively. The efficiency of these processes ranges from 20–90%. Comparatively, advanced wastewater treatment processes, such as reverse osmosis, ozonation and advanced oxidation technologies, can achieve higher removal rates for drugs. Pharmaceuticals and their metabolites undergo natural attenuation by adsorption and solar oxidation. Therefore, pharmaceuticals in water sources even at trace concentrations would have undergone removal through biological processes and, if applicable, combined adsorption and photocatalytic degradation wastewater treatment processes. This review provides an overview of the conventional and advanced technologies for the removal of pharmaceutical compounds from water sources. It also sheds light on the key points behind adsorption and photocatalysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Water: Occurrence, Fate and Removal)
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18 pages, 1680 KiB  
Review
Notes on Common Misconceptions in Microplastics Removal from Water
by Pavel Krystynik, Katarina Strunakova, Michal Syc and Petr Kluson
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(13), 5833; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11135833 - 23 Jun 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3343
Abstract
Occurrence of microplastics in the environment has become a serious problem with too many variables and unknowns regarding their relationship not only with human health but also with other parts of the environment. The toxic and ecotoxic properties are still a subject of [...] Read more.
Occurrence of microplastics in the environment has become a serious problem with too many variables and unknowns regarding their relationship not only with human health but also with other parts of the environment. The toxic and ecotoxic properties are still a subject of interest and the scientific attitude to their threat is not unified. There are numerous review papers which report on microplastic particles occurrence in water, but similarly complex reviews on methods of their removal are not that frequent. This paper aims to provide a brief overview summarizing the most tested methods of microplastics removal and intends to critically evaluate them accordingly and advert to their discrepancies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Water: Occurrence, Fate and Removal)
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44 pages, 992 KiB  
Review
Paraben Compounds—Part II: An Overview of Advanced Oxidation Processes for Their Degradation
by João Lincho, João Gomes and Rui C. Martins
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(8), 3556; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11083556 - 15 Apr 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2161
Abstract
Water scarcity represents a problem for billions of people and is expected to get worse in the future. To guarantee people’s water needs, the use of “first-hand water” or the reuse of wastewater must be done. Wastewater treatment and reuse are favorable for [...] Read more.
Water scarcity represents a problem for billions of people and is expected to get worse in the future. To guarantee people’s water needs, the use of “first-hand water” or the reuse of wastewater must be done. Wastewater treatment and reuse are favorable for this purpose, since first-hand water is scarce and the economic needs for the exploration of this type of water are increasing. In wastewater treatment, it is important to remove contaminants of emerging concern, as well as pathogenic agents. Parabens are used in daily products as preservatives and are detected in different water sources. These compounds are related to different human health problems due to their endocrine-disrupting behavior, as well as several problems in animals. Thus, their removal from water streams is essential to achieve safe reusable water. Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) are considered very promising technologies for wastewater treatment and can be used as alternatives or as complements of the conventional wastewater treatments that are inefficient in the removal of such contaminants. Different AOP technologies such as ozonation, catalytic ozonation, photocatalytic ozonation, Fenton’s, and photocatalysis, among others, have already been used for parabens abatement. This manuscript critically overviews several AOP technologies used in parabens abatement. These treatments were evaluated in terms of ecotoxicological assessment since the resulting by-products of parabens abatement can be more toxic than the parent compounds. The economic aspect was also analyzed to evaluate and compare the considered technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Water: Occurrence, Fate and Removal)
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37 pages, 1519 KiB  
Review
Paraben Compounds—Part I: An Overview of Their Characteristics, Detection, and Impacts
by João Lincho, Rui C. Martins and João Gomes
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(5), 2307; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11052307 - 05 Mar 2021
Cited by 62 | Viewed by 18528
Abstract
Parabens are widely used in different industries as preservatives and antimicrobial compounds. The evolution of analytical techniques allowed the detection of these compounds in different sources at µg/L and ng/L. Until today, parabens were already found in water sources, air, soil and even [...] Read more.
Parabens are widely used in different industries as preservatives and antimicrobial compounds. The evolution of analytical techniques allowed the detection of these compounds in different sources at µg/L and ng/L. Until today, parabens were already found in water sources, air, soil and even in human tissues. The impact of parabens in humans, animals and in ecosystems are a matter of discussion within the scientific community, but it is proven that parabens can act as endocrine disruptors, and some reports suggest that they are carcinogenic compounds. The presence of parabens in ecosystems is mainly related to wastewater discharges. This work gives an overview about the paraben problem, starting with their characteristics and applications. Moreover, the dangers related to their usage were addressed through the evaluation of toxicological studies over different species as well as of humans. Considering this, paraben detection in different water sources, wastewater treatment plants, humans and animals was analyzed based on literature results. A review of European legislation regarding parabens was also performed, presenting some considerations for the use of parabens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Water: Occurrence, Fate and Removal)
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