Future and challenges of co-biofilm treatment on ammonia and Bisphenol A removal from wastewater

Ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) is one of the most frequent pollutants in wastewater which utilizes dissolved oxygen in water and produces eutrophication in water bodies, while Bisphenol A (BPA) is an emerging pollutant that disrupt endocrine hormones and system operation even at extremely low doses. This review discusses the levels of ammonia and BPA in domestic wastewater and their effects. The treatment of these contaminants through a biological process is emphasized. The removal mechanisms are explained, and a new 'co-biofilm' treatment is introduced to remove ammonia and BPA simultaneously. Co-biofilm treatment is a hybrid technology of moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) and water hyacinth for wastewater treatment. This hybrid technology provides co-biofilm treatment between biocarriers in MBBR and the roots of water hyacinth. In this technology, the extensive of aeration used in the MBBR and the slowness of water hyacinth's capability in removing contaminants could be improved. Further studies are suggested to optimize the performance of this environmentally friendly system.