고려대학교

초록/요약

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a group of industrial aromatic organobromine chemicals that have been used since the 1970s as flame retardants in a wide range of consumer products and articles, such as plastics, computers, textiles and upholstery. Commercial PBDEs were added to Annex A of the Stockholm Convention as persistent organic pollutants in May 2009. PBDEs are still frequenlty found in sludge and effluent from wastewater treatment plants, even though commercial PBDEs were prohibited or voluntarily phased out several years ago. Conventional wastewater treatment processes are not designed to effectively remove PBDEs. This indicates that there is an urgent need for new developments and improvements in currently available treatment techniques. Several studies have suggested the potential removal and degradation technologies for PBDEs in wastewater. In this study, the concentrations and compositional profiles of PBDE congeners in sludge and effluent are investigated by analyzing literature data in relation to their usage patterns in commercial products in North America and South Korea. The strengths and weaknesses of cureent PBDEs removal techniques (i.e., biodegradation, zero-valent iron, photolysis, sorption, etc.) are critically discussed. In addition, future research direction regarding on the treatment and removal of PBDEs from wastewater is also suggested based on the literature review.