title: Degradation of PPCPs in activated sludge from different WWTPs in Denmark.
abstract: Pharmaceuticals and Personal care products (PPCPs) are often found in effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) due to insufficient removal during wastewater treatment processes. To understand the factors affecting the removal of PPCPs in classical activated sludge WWTPs, the present study was performed to assess the removal of frequently occurring pharmaceuticals (Naproxen, Fenoprofen, Ketoprofen, Dichlofenac, Carbamazepine) and the biocide Triclosan in activated sludge from four different Danish WWTPs. The respective degradation constants were compared to operational parameters previous shown to be of importance for degradation of micropollutants such as biomass concentration, and sludge retention time (SRT). The most rapid degradation, was observed for NSAID pharmaceuticals (55-90% for Fenoprofen, 77-94% for Ketoprofen and 46-90% for Naproxen), followed by Triclosan (61-91%), while Dichlofenac and Carbamazepine were found to be persistent in the systems. Degradation rate constants were calculated as 0.0026-0.0407 for NSAID pharmaceuticals and 0.0022-0.0065 for triclosan. No relationships were observed between degradation rates and biomass concentrations in the diverse sludges. However, for the investigated PPCPs, the optimal SRT was within 14-20 days (for these values degradation of these PPCPs was the most efficient). Though all of these parameters influence the degradation rate, none of them seems to be overall decisive. These observations indicate that the biological composition of the sludge is more important than the design parameters of the respective treatment plant.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenhua Road 72, Shenyang, 110016, China.|Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7H, 9220, Aalborg, Denmark.|Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgsvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark.
authors.forename: Xijuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, Aalborg University, Sohngaardsholmsvej 57, 9000, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vollertsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7H, 9220, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jeppe Lund
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, Aalborg University, Sohngaardsholmsvej 57, 9000, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Agnieszka Gieraltowska
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Dall
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgsvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark. kb@envs.au.dk.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6348-416X
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bester
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019149:Bioreactors; D003718:Denmark; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000378:metabolism*; D012722:Sewage; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Biodegradation; PPCPs; Sludge; Sludge retention time; Wastewater treatment plants