articleWater ResearchJan 3, 2026HYBRID OA

Breaking it down: Unveiling the roles of chemical structure, concentrations and technology on micropollutant biotransformation in wastewater treatment plants

MKMartina KaltECElia CeppiS(Serina (author) RobinsonKFKathrin Fenner

Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology

PubMed
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Abstract

Complex mixtures of anthropogenic micropollutants (MPs) pose risks to ecosystems and health by entering the environment through multiple pathways. Microbial biotransformation is a major removal process, yet the key drivers remain poorly understood. Activated sludge (AS) treatment in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) acts as a partial barrier and reduces MP emissions into aquatic ecosystems, yet removal efficiencies vary widely across MPs. Here, we studied the biotransformation of 189 MPs in AS from six Swiss WWTPs operated at three treatment conditions: carbon elimination ( Celim ), nitrification–denitrification ( DeNit ), and moving bed biofilm reactors ( MBBR ). MPs were spiked into lab-scale assays with…

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5
total citations
FWCI
39.80
Percentile
100%
References
62
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4

Topics & keywords

Topics
Keywords
  • Biotransformation
  • Sewage treatment
  • Activated sludge
  • Wastewater
  • Aquatic ecosystem
  • Biomass (ecology)
  • Biodegradation
  • Degradation (telecommunications)
UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • Clean water and sanitation
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