Trace organic contaminant removal by fungal membrane bioreactors and enzymatic membrane reactors

The occurrence of trace organic contaminants (TrOCs) in raw and secondary treated effluent is of significant human and ecological health concern, particularly with regard to the safety of the downstream production of water for human consumption. Efficient removal of TrOCs is a prerequisite to wastewater reclamation which is regarded as an important means of tackling the ever increasing demand for water. This thesis work investigated the removal of TrOCs by wholecell white rot fungi (WRF) and their extracellular enzyme (i.e., laccase) in membrane bioreactors (MBRs) and enzymatic membrane reactors (EMRs).