water treatment (Arora and Sharma 2010; Asgher et al. 2008; D’Souza et al. 2006;
Harms et al. 2011; Majeau et al. 2010; Pérez et al. 2016; Pointing 2001; Pophali et al.
2003; Saparrat et al. 2010; Wesenberg et al. 2003).
Current advanced biological (waste)water treatment processes, which aim to
overcome the performance limits of conventional biological processes, make use
of either isolated enzymes or whole organisms. Immobilization of suitable, isolated
enzymes yields biocatalytically active nanomaterials with an encouraging perspective for application in wastewater treatment despite certain issues such as upscaling
the process, long-term stability, and cost efficiency, which still needs to be solved.
Moreover most of the related applications are still at the experimental stage (ArcaRamos et al. 2016; Ba et al. 2013; Fernández-Fernández et al. 2013). Other
approaches, also mostly still experimental, such as bioelectrochemical systems
(BESs) employ specific surface-immobilized microorganisms for wastewater treatment along with energy production based on the microbes’ ability to catalyze redox
reactions on or near the electrodes (Cecconet et al. 2017). Membrane bioreactors
(MBRs), which retain the biocatalytically active sludge on the membrane surfaces
and may also be augmented with additional organisms (e.g., fungi) (Ahmed et al.
2017), have been demonstrated to be highly effective in the removal of EDCs and
PCPs already at pilot and full-scale (Cecconet et al. 2017). Biological activated
carbon processes were reported to be suitable for the removal of PhACs and
pesticides (Ahmed et al. 2017; Cecconet et al. 2017). Hybrid systems based on the
combinations of biological and physicochemical processes have been developed in
order to enhance the efficiency of water treatment processes. For instance, MBR
performance can be improved by combination with activated carbon adsorption
(Cecconet et al. 2017), and ozonation followed by biological activated carbon was
reported to be highly efficient on PhACs and pesticides (Ahmed et al. 2017). Some
of such hybrid technologies have already been successfully tested for PhAC removal
at pilot and sometimes even at full-scale (MBR followed by ozonation and powdered
activated carbon, respectively) (Alrhmoun et al. 2015). Constructed wetlands, which
require more space compared to other biological water treatment systems, have also
the potential to remove common PhACs from urban wastewater. Their implementation has been considered to be an alternative for wastewater treatment in small and
scattered communities and for the final step in the treatment of special wastewaters
from, e.g., healthcare or hospital facilities (Verlicchi and Zambello 2014). The
following chapters will focus on particularly promising state-of-the-art biological
treatment processes in detail, and hereby build a bridge between the tailored design
of biocatalytically active nanomaterials on the basis of oxidative (laccases, peroxidases, tyrosinases) and hydrolytic enzymes (e.g., esterases, lipases) and the assessment of the efficiency of advanced biological processes in field studies.
Acknowledgement This work was supported by the Helmholtz Association of German Research
Centres and contributes to the Chemicals in the Environment (CITE) Research Programme
conducted at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ.
15 Biotechnologies for Water Treatment
341
Harms et al. 2011; Majeau et al. 2010; Pérez et al. 2016; Pointing 2001; Pophali et al.
2003; Saparrat et al. 2010; Wesenberg et al. 2003).
Current advanced biological (waste)water treatment processes, which aim to
overcome the performance limits of conventional biological processes, make use
of either isolated enzymes or whole organisms. Immobilization of suitable, isolated
enzymes yields biocatalytically active nanomaterials with an encouraging perspective for application in wastewater treatment despite certain issues such as upscaling
the process, long-term stability, and cost efficiency, which still needs to be solved.
Moreover most of the related applications are still at the experimental stage (ArcaRamos et al. 2016; Ba et al. 2013; Fernández-Fernández et al. 2013). Other
approaches, also mostly still experimental, such as bioelectrochemical systems
(BESs) employ specific surface-immobilized microorganisms for wastewater treatment along with energy production based on the microbes’ ability to catalyze redox
reactions on or near the electrodes (Cecconet et al. 2017). Membrane bioreactors
(MBRs), which retain the biocatalytically active sludge on the membrane surfaces
and may also be augmented with additional organisms (e.g., fungi) (Ahmed et al.
2017), have been demonstrated to be highly effective in the removal of EDCs and
PCPs already at pilot and full-scale (Cecconet et al. 2017). Biological activated
carbon processes were reported to be suitable for the removal of PhACs and
pesticides (Ahmed et al. 2017; Cecconet et al. 2017). Hybrid systems based on the
combinations of biological and physicochemical processes have been developed in
order to enhance the efficiency of water treatment processes. For instance, MBR
performance can be improved by combination with activated carbon adsorption
(Cecconet et al. 2017), and ozonation followed by biological activated carbon was
reported to be highly efficient on PhACs and pesticides (Ahmed et al. 2017). Some
of such hybrid technologies have already been successfully tested for PhAC removal
at pilot and sometimes even at full-scale (MBR followed by ozonation and powdered
activated carbon, respectively) (Alrhmoun et al. 2015). Constructed wetlands, which
require more space compared to other biological water treatment systems, have also
the potential to remove common PhACs from urban wastewater. Their implementation has been considered to be an alternative for wastewater treatment in small and
scattered communities and for the final step in the treatment of special wastewaters
from, e.g., healthcare or hospital facilities (Verlicchi and Zambello 2014). The
following chapters will focus on particularly promising state-of-the-art biological
treatment processes in detail, and hereby build a bridge between the tailored design
of biocatalytically active nanomaterials on the basis of oxidative (laccases, peroxidases, tyrosinases) and hydrolytic enzymes (e.g., esterases, lipases) and the assessment of the efficiency of advanced biological processes in field studies.
Acknowledgement This work was supported by the Helmholtz Association of German Research
Centres and contributes to the Chemicals in the Environment (CITE) Research Programme
conducted at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ.
15 Biotechnologies for Water Treatment
341