@ARTICLE{Szymański_Kazimierz_Removal_2026,
 author={Szymański, Kazimierz and Piekarski, Jacek and Sidełko, Robert and Janowska, Beata},
 volume={vol. 52},
 number={No 1},
 pages={36-47},
 journal={Archives of Environmental Protection},
 howpublished={online},
 year={2026},
 publisher={Polish Academy of Sciences},
 abstract={At the municipal wastewater treatment plant in Międzyzdroje (approximately 6,000 permanent residents; ~370,000 people during the summer season), a tertiary treatment stage based on gravity filtration using disc filters (Mecana SF6/30; PES-13) was implemented between 2021 and 2023. Despite a twofold increase in influent flow during the summer of 2024, the quality parameters of the treated wastewater (TSS, BOD5, COD, TN, and TP) remained well below the limits specified in the water permit. The filtration process effectively stabilized effluent quality under conditions of increased seasonal load. However, only limited removal of selected pharmaceuticals was observed: 7-17% (metoprolol 7%, candesartan 17%, irbesartan 5%, venlafaxine 14%, citalopram 10%, amisulpride 14%) and 33% for clarithromycin. No removal was observed for hydrochlorothiazide, carbamazepine, or diclofenac. Benzotriazole concentrations decreased by only 3%. All 24 PFAS compounds were below the limit of quantification (LOQ), and the Σ16 PAHs concentration was <0.21 Sg/L. These results confirm that effective reduction of micropollutant emissions requires the implementation of a quaternary treatment stage (e.g., advanced oxidation processes, adsorption, or membrane technologies).},
 title={Removal efficiency of selected micropollutants from municipal wastewater using disc cloth filters – a case study},
 type={Article},
 URL={http://www.journals.pan.pl/Content/138266/PDF/Archives%20vol%2052%20art%204.pdf},
 doi={10.24425/aep.2026.158382},
 keywords={PAHs;, filtration;, pharmaceuticals;, micropollutants;, PFAS;},
}