Wastewater micropollutant removal is crucial to ensure safe water reuse and protect natural water-courses.Although membrane bioreactors (MBR) have improved organic compound degradation, hydraulic retention times are often too short to satisfy acceptable recalcitrant organic removal rates.Often, results regarding treatment facility micropollutant removal are susceptible to uncontrolled feed concentrations, which are concomitant to seasonality and consumer habits.This work examined concentration transients of four pesticides (carbendazim, diuron, 2,4-D, atrazine), which were constantly dosed to a MBR pilot plant treating high strength industrial wastewater (COD >4000 mg/L).In addition to regular MBR operation, two feasible means of extending pesticide retention in bioreactors were evaluated: adding small powd. activated C (PAC) concentrations to activated sludge; and coupling the PAC-assisted MBR and a reverse osmosis (RO) unit with retentate recirculation.The aim was provide reliable information on micropollutant within wastewater treatment facilities with different configurations under controlled feed conditions.Results showed carbendazim was the only pesticide efficiently (>80%) removed during regular MBR operation, attributed to the presence of electron donating groups attached to its aromatic ring structure.Improved diuron retention by PAC addition enhanced its long-term removal; the effect of PAC addition on 2,4-D and atrazine removal was only temporary and mainly attributed to adsorption.The PAC functioned as platform for bio-floc formation limited sludge production and slowed down membrane fouling, further improving the MBR general performance.The MBR/RO hybrid process was the most effective one by increasing in bioreactor pesticide residence time regardless of functional groups and properties, thereby facilitating generalized micropollutant removal.