title: Paracetamol biodegradation by activated sludge and photocatalysis and its removal by a micelle-clay complex, activated charcoal, and reverse osmosis membranes.
abstract: Kinetic studies on the stability of the pain killer paracetamol in Al-Quds activated sludge demonstrated that paracetamol underwent biodegradation within less than one month to furnish p-aminophenol in high yields. Characterizations of bacteria contained in Al-Quds sludge were accomplished. It was found that Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the bacterium most responsible for the biodegradation of paracetamol to p-aminophenol and hydroquinone. Batch adsorptions of paracetamol and its biodegradation product (p-aminophenol) by activated charcoal and a composite micelle (octadecyltrimethylammonium)-clay (montmorillonite) were determined at 25°C. Adsorption was adequately described by a Langmuir isotherm, and indicated better efficiency of removal by the micelle-clay complex. The ability of bench top reverse osmosis (RO) plant as well as advanced membrane pilot plant to remove paracetamol was also studied at different water matrixes to test the effect of organic matter composition. The results showed that at least 90% rejection was obtained by both plants. In addition, removal of paracetamol from RO brine was investigated by using photocatalytic processes; optimal conditions were found to be acidic or basic pH, in which paracetamol degraded in less than 5 min. Toxicity studies indicated that the effluent and brine were not toxic except for using extra low energy membrane which displayed a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC-50) value of 80%.
authors: a Department of Bioorganic Chemistry , College of Pharmacy, Al-Quds University , Jerusalem , Palestine.
authors: Rafik
authors: R
authors: Karaman
authors: b Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technology , College of Science and Technology, Al-Quds University , Jerusalem , Palestine.|c Department of Biology , Chemistry and Environmental science, College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah , Sharjah , UAE.
authors: Mustafa
authors: M
authors: Khamis
authors: d Department of Biology , College of Science and Technology, Al-Quds University , Jerusalem , Palestine.
authors: Jehad
authors: J
authors: Abbadi
authors: a Department of Bioorganic Chemistry , College of Pharmacy, Al-Quds University , Jerusalem , Palestine.
authors: Ahmad
authors: A
authors: Amro
authors: e Centre for Chemical and Biological Analysis, Al-Quds University , Jerusalem , Palestine.
authors: Mohannad
authors: M
authors: Qurie
authors: e Centre for Chemical and Biological Analysis, Al-Quds University , Jerusalem , Palestine.
authors: Ibrahim
authors: I
authors: Ayyad
authors: a Department of Bioorganic Chemistry , College of Pharmacy, Al-Quds University , Jerusalem , Palestine.
authors: Fatima
authors: F
authors: Ayyash
authors: d Department of Biology , College of Science and Technology, Al-Quds University , Jerusalem , Palestine.
authors: Omar
authors: O
authors: Hamarsheh
authors: d Department of Biology , College of Science and Technology, Al-Quds University , Jerusalem , Palestine.
authors: Reem
authors: R
authors: Yaqmour
authors: f Department of Soil and Water Sciences , The R.H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Rehovot , Israel.
authors: Shlomo
authors: S
authors: Nir
authors: g Crop Systems, Forestry and Environmental Sciences , University of Basilicata , Potenza , Italy.
authors: Sabino A
authors: SA
authors: Bufo
authors: g Crop Systems, Forestry and Environmental Sciences , University of Basilicata , Potenza , Italy.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Scrano
authors: h Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Technion-Israel Institute of Technology , Haifa , Israel.
authors: Sofia
authors: S
authors: Lerman
authors: h Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Technion-Israel Institute of Technology , Haifa , Israel.
authors: Shirra
authors: S
authors: Gur-Reznik
authors: h Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Technion-Israel Institute of Technology , Haifa , Israel.
authors: Carlos G
authors: CG
authors: Dosoretz
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002606:Charcoal / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077215:Clay; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008823:Micelles; D009995:Osmosis; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008823:Micelles; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002606:Charcoal; D000082:Acetaminophen; D000077215:Clay
keywords: Al-Quds sludge; activated charcoal; advanced oxidation techniques; biodegradation; membrane technology; micelle–clay complex; paracetamol; removal of pharmaceuticals; toxicity