Advanced technologies in water and wastewater treatment

The use of conventional water and wastewater treatment processes becomes in creasingly challenged with the identification of more and more contaminants , rapid growth of population and industrial activities, and diminishing ava ilability of water resources. Three emerging treatment technologies, includ ing membrane filtration, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), and UV irradi ation, hold great promise to provide alternatives for better protection of public health and the environment and thus are reviewed in this paper. The emphasis was placed on their basic principles, main applications, and new d evelopments. Advantages and disadvantages of these technologies are compare d to highlight their current limitations and future research needs. It can be concluded that, along with the growing knowledge and the advances in man ufacturing industry, the applications of these technologies will be increas ed at an unprecedented scale.