Optimal integration of vacuum UV with granular biofiltration for advanced wastewater treatment: Impact of process sequence on CECs removal and microbial ecology

•A VUV-based AOP was successfully integrated with biofiltration on two different media.•Compared to biologically active zeolite, biologically active carbon filters showed a superior performance for CECs control.•VUV-based AOP drastically reduced the CECs load to biofiltration.•Media type markedly affected microbial composition in the biofilters.