Occurrence, fates and potential treatment approaches for removal of viruses from wastewater: A review with emphasis on SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

Graphical abstract

Wastewater-based epidemiology—surveillance and early detection of waterborne pathogens with a focus on SARS-CoV-2, Cryptosporidium and Giardia

“…Ultrafiltration ( Cryptosporidium : 4.4–6.0 LRV; Giardia : 4.7–7.4 LRV) and UV disinfection combined with advanced oxidation (∼ 6.0 LRV for both Cryptosporidium and Giardia ) were reported as the most efficient methods for removal and disinfection of Cryptosporidium and Giardia (oo)cysts in WWTPs (Soller et al 2017 ). Future studies on environmental conditions including temperature and pH and other wastewater treatment processes and disinfection studies are necessary to better understand the removal of a range of pathogens from WWTPs (Bhatt et al 2020 ).…”

“…The fate and survival of pathogens in wastewater systems depend on a variety factors, including wastewater characteristics, the presence of biofilms, temperature, pH, average in-sewer travel time, per-capita water use, and the processes used to treat and disinfect the wastewater (Curtis 2003;Cao et al 2020;Hart and Halden 2020;Mandal et al 2020). Wastewater treatment usually involves a combination of physical (sedimentation, filtration, inactivation by solar or UV radiation), biological (activated sludge, algae) and chemical (coagulation-flocculation, inactivation by oxidants such as chlorine) processes for pathogen removal from wastewater, with some of the process occurring concurrently (Bhatt et al 2020;Fu et al 2010;Nasser et al 2012).…”

Methods and resources needed in treating SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater

“…Cultivation of microalgae. Wastewater disinfection using cultivated microalgae, specifically the use of Galdieria sulphuraria has been proven to remove high rates of coliphages, noroviruses and enteroviruses 9 . Viruses in wastewater can be removed when they are adsorbed onto the biomass of microalgae, followed by the process of sedimentation 9 .…”

“…Wastewater disinfection using cultivated microalgae, specifically the use of Galdieria sulphuraria has been proven to remove high rates of coliphages, noroviruses and enteroviruses 9 . Viruses in wastewater can be removed when they are adsorbed onto the biomass of microalgae, followed by the process of sedimentation 9 . Nwoba et al 10 in addition, asserted that bioproducts that can be obtained from wastewater-grown microalgal biomass may include animal feed, biofuels and biofertilizers.…”

A review on the potential of photocatalysis in combatting SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater

“…As the current published research of pandemic COVID-19 is focusing on the occurrence, detection, and transmission of viruses in the environment [ [26] , [27] , [28] , [29] ], this paper aims to provide state-of-the-art technology in battling transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater via photocatalytic degradation. The concept and limitation of the existing conventional and current advanced oxidation processes for virus disinfection in water systems were reviewed extensively.…”