http://repositorio.lnec.pt:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/1007782 Tue, 08 Sep 2026 03:36:24 GMT 2026-09-08T03:36:24Z http://repositorio.lnec.pt:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/1020099 Title: Full-scale multipurpose ozonation in urban wastewater with strong textile input: removal of colour, micropollutants, pathogens and antimicrobial resistance indicators Authors: Campinas, M.; Vaz-Moreira, I.; Viegas, R.M. C.; Mesquita, E.; Ribeiro, D.; Ruivo, A.; Soares, J.; Paíga, P.; Delerue-Matos, C.; Faria, G.; Silva, C.; Costa, C.; Manaia, C; Rosa, M. J. Abstract: Understanding multipurpose ozonation performance under realistic and variable wastewater conditions is critical for investment decisions under the revised EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (EU-UWWTD). As most studies focuses on single treatment objectives or homogeneous municipal effluents, integrated evaluations are particularly needed for industry-influenced wastewaters, where ozone reactivity and process efficiency can differ markedly. This study aims to provide a holistic assessment of full-scale ozonation by simultaneously investigating the responses of chemical and biological contaminants, as well as microbial community dynamics, variable ozone doses applied primarily for textile colour control. To our knowledge, this is one of the first integrated full-scale studies of ozonation in a strongly textile-influenced urban WWTP (51% of total inflow). Ozonation performance was assessed through three full-scale experimental campaigns, each evaluating three ozone doses in the range of 0.4–1.0 mg O₃/mg TOC. The study evaluated colour removal, micropollutant abatement, pathogen and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) indicators reduction, by-product formation, acute toxicity and surrogate parameters for process monitoring. Ozonation had little effect on bulk organic parameters but achieved 50–84% colour removal and near-complete elimination of terrestrial humic-like fluorescence. High organic matter content and colour constrained ozone exposure, shifting micropollutant abatement towards predominantly •OH-driven oxidation. Nevertheless, ozonation alone achieved ≥80% removal of the monitored micropollutants at ozone doses ≥0.65 mg O₃/mg C, indicating its major contribution towards EU-UWWTD compliance targets. Somatic coliphages and bacteria log-reductions ranged from 0.9 to >2.3 and from 0.2 to 1.2, respectively. Acute toxicity was reduced, whereas AMR gene abundance showed limited sensitivity to ozone dose. Post-treatment microbial regrowth was observed, particularly at higher ozone doses, including bacterial groups carrying resistance genes, suggesting a selection-like process. Operational surrogate indicators (A254, A436, colour-scan and PARAFAC components) were identified/validated to support process monitoring and EU-UWWTD implementation in complex wastewater matrices. Wed, 01 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.lnec.pt:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/1020099 2026-07-01T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.lnec.pt:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/1019979 Title: Activated carbon adsorption in water treatment - an expanding application Authors: Rosa, M. J.; Mestre, A.S.; Silva, C.; Mesquita, E.; Campinas, M.; Carvalho, A. P.; Viegas, R.M. C. Abstract: Population growth, water scarcity, and climate change are driving the need for enhanced control of organic micropollutants and contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in the urban water cycle1. Activated carbon adsorption is considered a best available technology for removing these challenging contaminants, such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and cyanotoxins, from both drinking water and treated wastewater. This communication focuses on the application of powdered activated carbon (PAC) and granular activated carbon (GAC) in drinking water and urban wastewater treatment (DWT, UWWT). Several key projects have supported the research and demonstration of these advanced materials and treatment technologies for DWT (LIFE Hymemb, FCT EMPOWER+, CYTED-Recircula), UWWT (LIFE Impetus, LIFE ReFitting), non-potable water reuse (FP7 TRUST) and direct potable water reuse (H2020 B-WaterSmart). Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.lnec.pt:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/1019979 2026-06-01T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.lnec.pt:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/1019977 Title: Modelling micropollutant adsorption in water treatment Authors: Viegas, R.M. C.; Mesquita, E.; Campinas, M.; Andrade, M. A.; Mestre, A.S.; Carvalho, A. P.; Rosa, M. J. Abstract: Adsorption-based micropollutant removal is currently applied in different process configurations in both drinking water treatment and wastewater treatment. To support process understanding, prediction and design, emphasis is placed here on mechanistic modelling of adsorption, namely through the Homogeneous Surface Diffusion Model (HSDM), which provides a mechanistic-based description of mass transfer and intraparticle diffusion. Overall, modelling of micropollutant adsorption can support several practical objectives, including activated carbon selection, the development and screening of new adsorbents, and the design and optimisation of treatment processes. The proposed modelling approach is illustrated with datasets from several research projects, highlighting its applicability across different treatment contexts. Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.lnec.pt:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/1019977 2026-06-01T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.lnec.pt:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/1019976 Title: A novel phenomenological model for streamlined prediction and online monitoring of organic micropollutant removal in full-scale wastewater ozonation Authors: Viegas, R.M. C.; Silva, C.; Campinas, M.; Paíga, P.; Delerue-Matos, C.; Costa, C.; Rosa, M. J. Abstract: Ozonation is a leading option for advanced treatment in full-scale WWTPs, yet rapid prediction and online monitoring of organic micropollutant (MP) removal remain challenging. We propose an integrated, streamlined phenomenological framework that addresses both needs through two complementary models. The formulation rests on conventional ozone–radical kinetics, using the Rct concept (•OH-exposure/O3-exposure) with an effective first-order ozone decay. After algebraic simplification, the model reduces to two identifiable parameters, and these assumptions were verified a posteriori by goodness-of-fit. Calibrated with full-scale observations, the two-parameter removal model accurately reproduced the behaviour of 12 MPs across 103 data points from three campaigns (R2=0.92; MAPE=5.4%), with compound-wise errors of 0.4–10%. A key contribution is the experimental determination of k●OH for four directive-listed indicators, amisulpride, citalopram, candesartan, and 4/5-methyl-benzotriazole, experimentally determined by back-calculating k●OH from measured removals with the calibrated removal model. To the best of our knowledge, these constants have not previously been measured experimentally, and the new values closely match recent predictions for amisulpride, citalopram, and candesartan and provide the first reported k●OH for 4/5-methyl-benzotriazole. For online MP removal monitoring, we developed a surrogate-driven forward model built on the phenomenological formulation. A436 delivered the best balance of parsimony and accuracy, marginally outperforming A254: a joint two-parameter model, pooled across the same campaigns, achieved R2=0.92 and MAPE=5.2%. Overall, the framework links a minimal kinetic structure to easily measured signals, enabling rapid prediction and proxy-based monitoring under realistic conditions while providing new kinetic data that reduce uncertainty in indirect oxidation pathways. Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.lnec.pt:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/1019976 2026-03-01T00:00:00Z