Behavior of pharmaceuticals in UV photoreactors fed with sewage treated by anaerobic/aerobic system.
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Date
2017
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Abstract
This work has assessed the seasonal changes and the dynamics in the concentration of
six pharmaceutical compounds during photolysis as a tertiary treatment of sewage
previously treated by an anaerobic/aerobic system comprised by a UASB (Upflow
Anaerobic Sludge Blanket) reactor and a trickling filter (TF). The target compounds
were 4 antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, sulfamethoxazole, trimetoprime), 1 beta
blocker (atenolol) and 1 anti-inflammatory (diclofenac). Six hydraulic retention times
(HRT) were evaluated (5, 10, 20, 40, 80 and 160 minutes) with the intent of varying the
UVC radiation doses applied to the effluent from biological treatment containing the
target contaminants. The concentrations of pharmaceutical compounds in the effluent of
the UASB/TF system were in agreement with the concentration levels reported in the
literature. Aside from DCF, the seasonality seems to be a preponderant characteristic
regarding the pharmaceutical concentration found in the effluent of biological treatment
systems. The radiation dose of 117 mJ.cm-² seemed to be most suited for the photolysis
application to tertiary treatment of domestic effluents. It was observed that lower UVC
doses led to deconjugation of pharmaceuticals which can result in increased
concentrations of target pollutants in the photo-reactor effluent.
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Keywords
Tertiary treatment, Sewage, Pharmaceutical compounds
Citation
LOPES, B. C. et al. Behavior of pharmaceuticals in UV photoreactors fed with sewage treated by anaerobic/aerobic system. Environmental Technology, v. 38, n. 21, , p. 2775-2784, 2017. Disponível em: <https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09593330.2016.1278046>. Acesso em: 15 set. 2017.