Recent advances in membrane biofilm reactor for micropollutants removal: Fundamentals, performance and microbial communities

[Display omitted] •MBfRs have attracted much attention for micropollutants removal from waters.•The review consolidates the recent advances of MBfRs for micropollutants removal.•Fundamentals, removal performance and microbial communities are reviewed.•Perspectives on the future research needs for MBfRs are also provided. The occurrence of micropollutants (MPs) in water and wastewater imposes potential risks on ecological security and human health. Membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR), as an emerging technology, has attracted much attention for MPs removal from water and wastewater. The review aims to consolidate the recent advances in membrane biofilm reactor for MPs removal from the standpoint of fundamentals, removal performance and microbial communities. First, the configuration and working principles of MBfRs are reviewed prior to the discussion of the current status of the system. Thereafter, a comprehensive review of the MBfR performance for MPs elimination based on literature database is presented. Key information on the microbial communities that are of great significance for the removal performance is then synthesized. Perspectives on the future research needs are also provided in this review to ensure the development of MBfRs for more cost-effective elimination of MPs from water and wastewater.