A review on the presence and removal of phthalates from wastewater

ABSTRACT

Phthalates are plasticisers dangerous to ecosystems and humans.The paper aims to review the exposure of high-concern phthalates resulting from industrial and domestic activities to wastewater and analyse the advanced technologies used in European countries to remove phthalates from wastewater. We drew attention that many phthalates are not completely removed during the conventional wastewater treatment processes and often require an additional complex combination of technologies. Maximum wastewater cleaning efficiency (85–95%) depends on phthalates specificity and is achieved with advanced cleaning methods. However, the solutions to the problems of phthalate’s presence and removal from wastewater are often addressed at the scientific research level. Because of the modernisation and operation of advanced technologies, the cost can increase by 5–25%. As a result, some European countries face financial difficulties implementing advanced technologies. To make progress in cleaning up phthalates, the EU is likely to continue maintaining and upgrading existing wastewater systems.

KEYWORDS:

• Phthalates
• wastewater treatment plants
• effluent
• waste sources
• treatment technologies

The highlights

1. High-concern phthalates are not entirely removed during the conventional wastewater treatment processes.

2. The cleaning efficiency of phthalates in the wastewater treatment plants is achieved through a complex set of technologies.

3. The problems of phthalates in wastewater are more often addressed at the scientific research level.

4. The installation, modernisation and operation of wastewater advanced treatment technologies increase the cost by 5-25%.

Abbreviations

BBzP – butyl benzyl phthalate; DAP – diamyl phthalate; DBP – dibutyl phthalate; DCHP – dicyclohexyl phthalate; DCHP – dicyclohehyl phthalate; DDcP – didecyl phthalate; DEHP – di(2-etylhexyl) phthalate; DEP – diethyl phthalate; DiBP – diisobutyl diphthalate; DMP – dimethyl phthalate; DOP – di(n-octyl) phthalate; DPP – dipentyl phthalate; DUP – diundecyl phthalate; logK_ow - n-octanol/water partition coefficient; ECHA – European Chemical Agency; REACH - Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals; EDs – endocrine disrupting compounds; GC-MS – gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; LLE – liquid-liquid extraction; SPE – solid-phase extraction; SPEM – solid phase microextraction; WWTPs – wastewater treatment plants; AOP – advanced oxidation processes; MBR - BAF - denitrifying biological filter; CAS – conventional activated sludge; CASP – cyclic activated sludge process; DAF - dissolved air flotation; FBR – fixed bed reactor; HRT – hydraulic retention time; OP – oxidation pond; RSF - rapid (gravity) sand filters; SBR - the sequencing batch reactor; SMU – submerged membrane unit; UF – ultrafiltration process.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed https://doi.org/10.1080/1573062X.2022.2087095