Removal of pesticides from water and wastewater: Chemical, physical and biological treatment approaches

The levels of pesticides in water have increased due to their excessive use in the modern agricultural domain. Choosing a suitable water treatment method for pesticide removal depends on the type of pesticide and the efficacy of the treatment process. This review critically discusses and provides a detailed description of a variety of chemical, physical, and biological approaches for pesticide removal from water, such as advanced oxidation processes, adsorption, activated sludge, membrane bioreactors, and membrane technologies. Both single-treatment and hybrid methods are thoroughly described and critically discussed. The use of hybrid removal techniques offers potential opportunities to develop innovative pesticide removal techniques. A thorough analysis of influent composition and recognition of the best removal technique is very important to design a water treatment plant that targets the maximum possible removal rate for different types of pesticides. Furthermore, the decentralization of water treatment was also discussed in which it is an important approach that would lead to better effluent water quality for lower prices. Many affordable techniques such as activated sludge and adsorption by agricultural adsorbents showed high efficacy in treating high levels of different pesticides.