Removal of ibuprofen from wastewater: comparing biodegradation in conventional, membrane bioreactor, and biological nutrient removal treatment systems.
Pharmaceuticals are continually being introduced into the influent of municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Developing a better understanding of pharmaceutical removal mechanisms within the different treatment processes is vital in preventing downstream contamination of our water resources. In this study, ibuprofen, a popular over-the-counter pain reliever, was monitored by taking wastewater samples throughout the City of Guelph municipal WWTP. Greater than 95% of ibuprofen was found to be removed in the aeration tank, with aerobic biodegradation being the dominant mechanism. For comparison, first-order kinetics were used to quantify ibuprofen biodegradation in a conventional WWTP aeration tank and in a membrane bioreactor (MBR) pilot plant. The rate constants, k biol, for the conventional tank and the MBR were determined to be (-6.8+/-3.3) L/g SS*d and (-8.4+/-4.0) L/g SS*d, respectively. These two rate constants were found to be statistically similar. Preliminary study of a biological nutrient removal pilot system also suggests that ibuprofen can be anaerobically degraded.
Smook
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School of Engineering, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
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Zytner
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D000332:Aerobiosis; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019149:Bioreactors; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
D007052:Ibuprofen