Removal efficiencies of top-used pharmaceuticals at sewage treatment plants with various technologies

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 103294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan T. Greenham ◽  
Katharine Y. Miller ◽  
Anthony Tong
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Sewage Treatment Plants ◽  
Removal Efficiencies

scholarly journals Distribution and Removal of Pharmaceuticals in Liquid and Solid Phases in the Unit Processes of Sewage Treatment Plants

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junwon Park ◽  
Changsoo Kim ◽  
Youngmin Hong ◽  
Wonseok Lee ◽  
Hyenmi Chung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Removal Efficiency ◽  
Biological Treatment ◽  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Biofilm Reactor ◽  
Relative Distribution ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Sewage Treatment Plants ◽  
Treatment Processes ◽  
Mass Load ◽  
Removal Efficiencies

In this study, we analyzed 27 pharmaceuticals in liquid and solid phase samples collected from the unit processes of four different sewage treatment plants (STPs) to evaluate their distribution and behavior of the pharmaceuticals. The examination of the relative distributions of various categories of pharmaceuticals in the influent showed that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were the most dominant. While the relative distribution of antibiotics in the influent was not high (i.e., 3%–5%), it increased to 14%–30% in the effluent. In the four STPs, the mass load of the target pharmaceuticals was reduced by 88%–95% mainly in the biological treatment process, whereas the ratio of pharmaceuticals in waste sludge to those in the influent (w/w) was only 2%. In all the STPs, the removal efficiencies for the stimulant caffeine, NSAIDs (acetaminophen, naproxen, and acetylsalicylic acid), and the antibiotic cefradine were high; they were removed mainly by biological processes. Certain compounds, such as the NSAID ketoprofen, contrast agent iopromide, lipid regulator gemfibrozil, and antibiotic sulfamethoxazole, showed varying removal efficiencies depending on the contribution of biodegradation and sludge sorption. In addition, a quantitative meta-analysis was performed to compare the pharmaceutical removal efficiencies of the biological treatment processes in the four STPs, which were a membrane bioreactor (MBR) process, sequencing batch reactor (SBR) process, anaerobic–anoxic–oxic (A2O) process, and moving-bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) process. Among the biological processes, the removal efficiency was in the order of MBR > SBR > A2O > MBBR. Among the tertiary treatment processes investigated, powdered activated carbon showed the highest removal efficiency of 18%–63% for gemfibrozil, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, atenolol, cimetidine, and trimethoprim.

The Depth of Phosphorus Removal by Three Coagulations

2011 ◽  
Vol 356-360 ◽  
pp. 1575-1580
Author(s):  
Kai Li ◽  
He Jie Xu ◽  
Chen Gu
Keyword(s):  
Phosphorus Removal ◽  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Settling Tank ◽  
Ferric Sulfate ◽  
Sewage Treatment Plants ◽  
Urban Sewage ◽  
Hydraulic Conditions ◽  
Removal Efficiencies ◽  
Secondary Settling ◽  
Polyaluminium Chloride

Using the secondary settling tank effluent, this paper is going to research the potentials of three coagulations (polyaluminium chloride, ferric sulfate, and self-polymeric aluminum ferric) in deep chemical phosphorus removal by the beaker experiment. The experiment focuses on the dosages, the hydraulic conditions of coagulation and effect of pH on the removal. The results show that three coagulants have good efficiencies in phosphorus removal. After coagulant treatments, phosphorus can be decreased below 0.5mg/L and achieve Grade A standards of urban sewage treatment plants (GB18918-2002). The removal efficiencies of polymer silicate are superior to those of poly aluminum chloride and polymeric ferric sulfate.

Changes of microbial indices of water quality in the Vistula and Brda rivers as a result of sewage treatment plant operation

2008 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maciej Walczak
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Sewage Treatment Plant ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Sewage Treatment Plants ◽  
Plant Operation ◽  
Treated Sewage ◽  
Microbiological Parameters ◽  
Microbial Indices

Changes of microbial indices of water quality in the Vistula and Brda rivers as a result of sewage treatment plant operationThis paper reports the results of studies of microbiological changes in the water quality of the Vistula and Brda rivers after the opening of sewage treatment plants in Bydgoszcz. The study involved determining the microbiological parameters of water quality. Based on the results obtained, it was found that the quality of the water in both rivers had improved decidedly after the opening of the plants, although an increased number of individual groups of microorganisms was found at the treated sewage outlet from one of the plants.

Spatial and Temporal Water Quality Trends in Severn Sound, Georgian Bay, since the Introduction of Phosphorus Control Guidelines: Nutrients and Phytoplankton, 1973 to 1991

1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 565-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.F. Gemza
Keyword(s):  
Total Phosphorus ◽  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Sewage Treatment Plant ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Soluble Reactive Phosphorus ◽  
Euphotic Zone ◽  
Water Clarity ◽  
Sewage Treatment Plants ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Phosphorus Levels

Abstract Severn Sound continues to exhibit signs of eutrophication despite initial identification of the problem in 1969 and the construction of several sewage treatment plants since then. In general, improvements in trophic state indicators have been marginal, suggesting that the sewage treatment plants have had limited success in controlling phosphorus concentrations. These discharges likely contributed to the increased total phosphorus levels and consequently the higher phytoplankton densities of the nearshore waters. Phytoplankton biovolumes were on average one order of magnitude higher than in the open waters of Lake Huron with mean summer biovolumes as high as 8.0 mm/L. Algal biovolumes were most dense in Penetang Bay, which experienced limited exchange with the main waters of the sound. No significant long-term trends were observed. Water clarity was declining significantly, however, at a rate of -0.60 to -0.78 m/year throughout the sound except in Sturgeon Bay. Total phosphorus levels were highly variable from year to year; however, concentrations from a 20-year perspective were declining in the open waters at a rate of 0.70 µg/L/year, but response was limited in nearshore areas. In Sturgeon Bay, mean annual euphotic zone total phosphorus as well as soluble reactive phosphorus levels declined by as much as 50% following the construction of a sewage treatment plant with tertiary treatment. Phytoplankton genera typical of eutrophic waters continued to dominate the algal assemblage but members indicative of mesotrophic conditions have become apparent in some areas of the sound.

Presence of Phenolic Compounds in Sewage, Effluent and Sludge from Municipal Sewage Treatment Plants

1982 ◽  
Vol 14 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 143-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
F B DeWalle ◽  
D A Kalman ◽  
R Dills ◽  
D Norman ◽  
E S K Chian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Municipal Sewage ◽  
Sewage Effluent ◽  
Capillary Gc ◽  
Digested Sludge ◽  
Calculated Concentration ◽  
Sewage Treatment Plants ◽  
Anaerobically Digested Sludge ◽  
Final Effluent ◽  
Dimethyl Phenol

A total of 25 municipal sewage treatment plants were sampled, 10 of which were resampled, to determine the quantity of phenolics in the sewage, final effluent and the anaerobically digested sludge using capillary GC/MS/DS/techniques. The study noted in decreasing order of frequency in raw sewage: phenol, pentachloro-phenol, dimethyl phenol, 3-methyl, 4-chlorophenol, 2,4,6-trichloro-phenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 2-nitrophenol, 2-chlorophenol, 2,4-dinitro-6-methylphenol and 2,4-dinitrophenol. The maximum concentration of phenol in sewage and sludge was 2800 ppb and 4460 respectively, while similar values for pentachlorophenol were 58 and 1200 ppb. Statistically calculated concentration reductions for phenol and dimethyl phenol were generally greater than noted for tri- and pentachlorophenol. Low decreases or increases were noted for monochlorophenol and especially for dichlorophenol as a result of the chloronation of the final effluent.

Examples for the Upgrading of Existing Activated Sludge Plants for Nutrient Removal

1990 ◽  
Vol 22 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 113-121
Author(s):  
W. Maier
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Nutrient Removal ◽  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
West Germany ◽  
Sewage Treatment Plants ◽  
Effluent Standards ◽  
Near Future

In view of the new effluent standards in West Germany, including nitrification and phosphorus elimination, many of the existing sewage treatment plants will have to be rebuilt or expanded. Another demand which will have to be dealt with in the near future is denitrification. Under consideration of the large BOD5-loads which were taken into account when designing the plants, many of them nitrify during the summer or can be easily converted to operate with nitrification. Principles for planning the upgrading of such plants have been laid down in order to achieve the required effluent concentrations. The application of these principles is demonstrated with examples of upgraded plants.

Operation Experiences with Biological Phosphorus Removal at the Sewage Treatment Plants of Berlin (West)

1991 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 133-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Peter ◽  
F. Sarfert
Keyword(s):  
Phosphorus Removal ◽  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Chemical Precipitation ◽  
Biological Phosphorus Removal ◽  
Treatment Results ◽  
Sewage Treatment Plants ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Two Stages ◽  
The Given ◽  
Biological Phosphorus

In investigations concerning sludge bulking in Berlin enhanced biological phosphorus removal was first observed unexpectedly. Because since 1986 an officially preset limit of 2 mg TP/l must be kept in all Berlin wastewater discharges it was decided to explore the capabilities of the observed mechanism under the specific circumstances of the exciting two large treatment plants in Ruhleben (240,000 m3/d) and Marienfelde (100,000 m3/d). For this purpose some of the existing units at both plants were equipped with anaerobic zones which were generated mainly by process modifications. Additionally stage one of the Ruhleben plant was altered completely in order to investigate the combination of biological phosphorus and nitrogen removal as a special pilot study in three parallel trains. The research activities and treatment results gained in each of the two stages of the Ruhleben and in the Marienfelde plant are reported in detail. For example BOD-related phosphorus removal rates were obtained ranging from 2.3-4.5 mg TP per 100 mg BOD removed. It must be stressed that all examinations were performed on full-scale conditions. At present the given limit of 2 mg TP/l in the Ruhleben plant is met without any chemical precipitation at least on average. From the beginning biological phosphorus removal will be integrated into further projected extensions.

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