REMOVAL OF EMERGING CONTAMINANTS AND ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING COMPOUNDS FROM WASTEWATER IN THE ASPECT OF WATER PROTECTION

The paper presents the selected compounds classified as "emerging contaminants" ECs as well as endocrine active or endocrine disrupting (EAC/EDC). It has been shown that the removal efficiency of these compounds during conventional wastewater treatment varies, but usually, it is insufficient for adequate protection of effluents' receivers. Because of this, pollution of the receiving waters by these compounds systematically increases. It is therefore essential to plan and to implement into practice other processes that allow for highly effective degradation or separation of these pollutants. Research studies confirm that the use of advanced chemical oxidation processes (AOPs) and AOPs coupled with photodegradation allow for the effective degradation of these xenobiotics. Membrane processes, coagulation, and sorption ensure the separation of these pollutants from the water phase. An increase in the removal of these compounds could be also achieved by using integrated processes. The development of such processes is at this stage of knowledge the priority issue in water quality protection. The aim of this literature review is to outline the scale of the problem of continuously increasing the number of pollutants in the water environment as a result of discharging WWTPs effluents. It is essential in the aspect of the development of the strategy of comprehensive actions aimed at the protection of water resources according to the sustainable development principle.