title: Occurrence and removal of multiple classes of antibiotics and antimicrobial agents in biological wastewater treatment processes.
abstract: Very little information on the occurrence and fate of multiple classes of antimicrobials in the aquatic environment is reported for the Southeast Asian region. This study provides the first and comprehensive data on the occurrence of ten different classes of antimicrobials in wastewater samples for Singapore. Among the investigated antimicrobials, 19 out of 21 target compounds were detected in 100% of the collected raw influent samples. Concentrations of the detected antimicrobials in raw influent varied from 23.8 to 43,740 ng/L. Removal of antimicrobials by conventional activated sludge (CAS) and membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems at a local wastewater treatment plant was evaluated. MBR exhibited better performance over CAS for most target antimicrobials. Beta-lactam, glycopeptide, and fluoroquinolone classes were largely eliminated by biological wastewater treatment processes, whereas trimethoprim and lincosamides appeared to be persistent. Effects of physicochemical properties and chemical structures of target antimicrobials on their removal efficiencies/mechanisms during wastewater treatment process were also discussed.
authors: NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, T-Lab Building, #02-01, 5A Engineering Drive 1 117411, Singapore. Electronic address: eritnh@nus.edu.sg.
authors: Ngoc Han
authors: NH
authors: Tran
authors: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, 1 Engineering Drive 2 117576, Singapore.
authors: Hongjie
authors: H
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, 1 Engineering Drive 2 117576, Singapore; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Reinhard
authors: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, 1 Engineering Drive 2 117576, Singapore.
authors: Feijian
authors: F
authors: Mao
authors: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, 1 Engineering Drive 2 117576, Singapore. Electronic address: ceeginyh@nus.edu.sg.
authors: Karina Yew-Hoong
authors: KY
authors: Gin
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D019149:Bioreactors; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Antibiotics; Antimicrobials; Conventional activated sludge; Membrane bioreactor; Occurrence; Removal