title: Ciprofloxacin removal during secondary domestic wastewater treatment in high rate algal ponds.
abstract: This study investigated the removal of antibiotic ciprofloxacin during the treatment of real wastewater using high rate algal ponds (HRAP). When spiked at 2 mg/L into primary domestic wastewater, ciprofloxacin (CPX) was efficiently removed from laboratory scale photobioreactors continuously operated under various durations of artificial illumination and hydraulic residence times. Subsequent batch tests conducted with reactor microcosms showed CPX removal was mainly caused by photodegradation during daytime, and sorption to biomass during night time. These findings were confirmed during an experiment conducted in a 1000 L pilot HRAP operated outdoors, as well as during outdoor batch assays conducted using pilot HRAP microcosms. While these results highlight a potentially interesting treatment capacity in comparison to conventional biological treatment, further research must confirm these findings at relevant pollutant concentration (ng-μg/L) and determine the fate and potential toxicity of degradation products.
authors.affiliation: Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering Department, Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hom-Diaz
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering and Advanced Technology, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Zane N
authors.initials: ZN
authors.lastname: Norvill
authors.affiliation: Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering Department, Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Paqui
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blánquez
authors.affiliation: Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering Department, Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vicent
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering and Advanced Technology, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand. Electronic address: b.j.guieysse@massey.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Guieysse
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D058086:Microalgae / Q000378:metabolism*; D010782:Photolysis; D061005:Ponds / Q000737:chemistry; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Ciprofloxacin; High rate algal ponds; Microalgae; Raceway ponds; Wastewater