@article{757729a9116e469593438ce115799de6,
title = "Removal of contaminants of emerging concern and Escherichia coli from effluent using an optimized electrochemical reactor",
abstract = "Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in wastewater are a matter of great importance as they have a huge environmental impact. This work investigated the electrochemical oxidation (EO) technology as an alternative tertiary treatment in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) aiming to simultaneous remove CECs and Escherichia coli. Platinum titanium (Pt/Ti) and metal mixed oxide (MMO, RuO2–IrO2/Ti) electrode materials with different shapes (bar, mesh and circular mesh) were tested. The results obtained showed that removal rate not only depends on CECs structure and physicochemical characteristics, but electrode material and shape play a key role in the whole treatment process. Overall, the removal efficiency increased (20–50%) for the recalcitrant CECs when using MMO with the electrode characterized by a higher surface area with a circular-mesh as both anode and cathode. Varying the current intensity had a relatively minor effect on the yield of CECs removal. CECs removals were greater than 90% with simultaneous removal of E. coli within 2 h. Overall, EO can be considered an eco-friendly process since no reagents were added and has a low estimated treatment cost of 1.1 €/m3.",
keywords = "Chemical oxidation, Contaminants of emerging concern, Electrochemical reactor, Electrode material, Pathogens, Wastewater treatment",
author = "Ferreira, {Ana Rita} and Paula Guedes and Mateus, {Eduardo P.} and Ribeiro, {Alexandra B.} and Nazar{\'e} Couto",
note = "Funding Information: This work has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sk{\l}odowska-Curie grant agreement No. 778045; project CEMOWAS2 (SOE2/P5/F0505), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER); and Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through grant UIDB/04085/2020 (strategic project for CENSE). FCT is also acknowledged for N. Couto (CEECIND/04210/2017) and P. Guedes (CEECIND/01969/2020) contracts established under Individual Call to Scientific Employment Stimulus. The authors would like to thank AdP, Dr. Cristina Santos for providing the samples, Eng. Olga Paredes, and the Laboratory of Control and Processes for the assistance. The authors also acknowledge to Dr. Hugo Cruz, researcher at LAQV-REQUIMTE, NOVA FCT for his knowledge and support on electrodes characterization (chronopotentiometry experiments). This research is anchored by the RESOLUTION LAB, an infrastructure at NOVA School of Science and Technology. Funding Information: The shortage of water supplies and wastewater management are major challenges for a sustainable development. Effluent from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is foreseen as a possible strategy to mitigate the pressure on water resources. Effluent reuse is supported by dedicated legislation and policies, being re-enforced in the concepts of Circular Economy, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG6), and the EU Green Deal. As part of an integrated water management approach, the European Commission adopted new quality requirements to ensure safe reuse of treated water from urban WWTPs [1] . The Regulation (EU) 2020/741 on minimum requirements for water reuse aims at ensuring that reclaimed water is safe for agricultural irrigation. E. coli is part of reclaimed water quality requirements. Additionally, Annex II, B) lists the conditions relating to the additional requirements, depending on risk assessment. This considers pharmaceuticals; other substances of emerging concern, including micropollutants; antimicrobial resistance. Funding Information: This work has received funding from the European Union{\textquoteright}s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sk{\l}odowska-Curie grant agreement No. 778045 ; project CEMOWAS2 ( SOE2/P5/F0505 ), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER); and Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through grant UIDB/04085/2020 (strategic project for CENSE). FCT is also acknowledged for N. Couto ( CEECIND / 04210/2017 ) and P. Guedes ( CEECIND /01969/2020) contracts established under Individual Call to Scientific Employment Stimulus. The authors would like to thank AdP, Dr. Cristina Santos for providing the samples, Eng. Olga Paredes, and the Laboratory of Control and Processes for the assistance. The authors also acknowledge to Dr. Hugo Cruz, researcher at LAQV-REQUIMTE, NOVA FCT for his knowledge and support on electrodes characterization (chronopotentiometry experiments). This research is anchored by the RESOLUTION LAB, an infrastructure at NOVA School of Science and Technology. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 Elsevier Ltd",
year = "2023",
month = jun,
doi = "10.1016/j.jece.2023.110175",
language = "English",
volume = "11",
journal = "Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering",
issn = "2213-3437",
publisher = "Elsevier BV",
number = "3",
}