The behaviors and fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a coking wastewater treatment plant

► Eighteen PAHs occurred in wastewater, gas and sludge samples from a coking WWTP. ► Anaerobic and aerobic tanks played different roles for heavier and lower PAHs. ► Over 97% PAHs were removed in the WWTP, 47.4-91.6% were achieved in biological stage. ► Adsorption was the major removal mechanism of PAHs, especially for high MW ones.