Monitoring and removal of residual phthalate esters and pharmaceuticals in the drinking water of Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
This study monitored the occurrence and removal efficiencies of 8 phthalate esters (PAEs) and 13 pharmaceuticals present in the drinking water of Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. The simultaneous electrocoagulation and electrofiltration (EC/EF) process was used to remove the contaminants. To this end, a monitoring program was conducted and a novel laboratory-prepared tubular carbon nanofiber/carbon/alumina composite membrane (TCCACM) was incorporated into the EC/EF treatment module (collectively designated as "TCCACM-EC/EF treatment module") to remove the abovementioned compounds from water samples. The monitoring results showed that the concentrations of PAEs were lower in water samples from drinking fountains as compared with tap water samples. No significant differences were found between the concentrations of pharmaceuticals in the two types of water samples. Under optimal operating conditions, the TCCACM-EC/EF treatment module yielded the lowest residual concentrations, ranging from not detected (ND) to 52ng/L for PAEs and pharmaceuticals of concern in the tap water samples. Moreover, the performance of the TCCACM-EC/EF treatment module is comparable with a series of treatment units employed for the drinking fountain water treatment system. The relevant removal mechanisms involved in the TCCACM-EC/EF treatment module were also discussed in this work.
Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan; Center for Emerging Contaminants Research, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan.
Gordon C C
GC
Yang
Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan. Electronic address: d973030001@student.nsysu.edu.tw.
Chia-Heng
CH
Yen
Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan.
Chih-Lung
CL
Wang
D060766:Drinking Water / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004952:Esters; D005374:Filtration; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013624:Taiwan; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
D060766:Drinking Water; D004952:Esters; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D010795:Phthalic Acids; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
Drinking water; Electrocoagulation and electrofiltration; Pharmaceuticals; Phthalate esters; Tubular composite membrane