title: Biotransformation of pharmaceuticals under nitrification, nitratation and heterotrophic conditions.
abstract: The effect of nitrification, nitratation and heterotrophic conditions on the biotransformation of several pharmaceuticals in a highly enriched nitrifying activated sludge was evaluated in this study by selective activation of ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB), nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) and heterotrophic bacteria. Nitrifiers displayed a noticeable capacity to process ibuprofen due to hydroxylation by ammonia monooxygenase (AMO) to produce 2-hydroxy-ibuprofen. Naproxen was also biotransformed under nitrifying conditions. On the other hand, heterotrophic bacteria present in the nitrifying activated sludge (NAS) biotransformed sulfamethoxazole. In contrast, both nitrifying and heterotrophic activities were ineffective against diclofenac, diazepam, carbamazepine and trimethoprim. Similar biotransformation rates of erythromycin, roxithromycin and fluoxetine were observed under all conditions tested. Overall, results from this study give more evidence on the role of the different microbial communities present in activated sludge reactors on the biological removal of pharmaceuticals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Technology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Electronic address: eduardo.fernandez.fontaina@usc.es.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Fontaina
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Technology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: I B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, United States.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Aga
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Technology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Omil
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Technology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lema
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Technology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carballa
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001711:Biotransformation; D052836:Heterotrophic Processes; D058465:Nitrification; D009573:Nitrites; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000378:metabolism*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009573:Nitrites; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Biodegradation; Micropollutants; Nitrifiers; Pharmaceuticals; Sorption; Wastewater treatment