Enhancement removal of endocrine-disrupting pesticides and nitrogen removal in a biofilm reactor coupling of biodegradable Phragmites communis and elastic filler for polluted source water treatment.

The coupling of conventional elastic filler and solid carbon source of Phragmites communis ( P. communis ) as the biofilm support was applied in a biofilm system for treating polluted source water containing nitrogen and trace endocrine-disrupting pesticides (cypermethrin and chlorpyrifos). Results showed that removal efficiencies of TN and EDPs were improved with addition of 3.6 kg P. communis /m 3 in the biofilm system. Meanwhile, the uniform distribution of P. communis favored simultaneously nitrogen and organics removal but not to trace EDPs compared with non-uniform distribution of P. communis . The biofilm on elastic filler was mainly responsible for the nitrification with NH 4 + -N oxidation efficiency of 82.9 ± 1.5%. Poor nitrification with NH 4 + -N oxidation efficiency of 36.3 ± 6.1% but effective denitrification with a TN removal efficiency of 56.5 ± 2.0% were obtained by the biofilm on P. communis . Cypermethrin was mainly removed via adsorption and microbial degradation, and chlorpyrifos removal mostly depended on the microbial degradation in biofilm system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]