Activated sludge systems removal efficiency of veterinary pharmaceuticals from slaughterhouse wastewater

Abstract

The knowledge on the efficiency of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) from animal food production industry for the removal of both hormones and antibiotics of veterinary application is still very limited. These compounds have already been reported in different environmental compartments at levels that could have potential impacts on the ecosystems. This work aimed to evaluate the role of activated sludge in the removal of commonly used veterinary drugs, enrofloxacin (ENR), tetracycline (TET), and ceftiofur, from wastewater during a conventional treatment process. For that, a series of laboratory-controlled experiments using activated sludge were carried out in batch reactors. Sludge reactors with 100 μg/L initial drug charge presented removal rates of 68 % for ENR and 77 % for TET from the aqueous phase. Results indicated that sorption to sludge and to the wastewater organic matter was responsible for a significant percentage of drugs removal. Nevertheless, these removal rates still result in considerable concentrations in the aqueous phase that will pass through the WWTP to the receiving environment. Measuring only the dissolved fraction of pharmaceuticals in the WWTP effluents may underestimate the loading and risks to the aquatic environment.

Slaughterhouse wastewater characteristics, treatment, and management in the meat processing industry: A review on trends and advances

“…The sensitivity analysis indicated that the COD residual concentration was highly sensitive to the variation of the maximum specific substrate utilization rate, producing a noticeable COD intensification. Carvalho et al (2013) aimed to evaluate the role of AS process in the removal of veterinary drugs including enrofloxacin, tetracycline, and ceftiofur from SWW in batch reactors. Sludge bioreactors with initial pharmaceutical concentrations of 100 g/L presented removal rates of 68% for enrofloxacin and 77% for tetracycline from the aqueous phase.…”

Current and Functional Reactor Designs in Poultry Slaughterhouse Wastewater Treatment

“…A study of an evaluation of the activated process (AS) used in the treatment of PSW effluent by kinetic model simulation [31], the AS reactor at 26 0 C yielded a COD removal efficiency of 93.5% up to 97.2% respectively. Carvalho [32] evaluated the role of the AS system in the removal of pollutants present in the PSW effluent. The results indicated that sorption to sludge and wastewater organic matter was responsible for the removal of drug pollutants.…”

Ciprofloxacin, diclofenac, ibuprofen and 17α-ethinylestradiol differentially affect the activity of acetogens and methanogens in anaerobic communities

“…Dissemination of pharmaceuticals in the environment via contaminated sludge and effluents has been found in soil (Carter et al 2014;Li 2014;Malmborg and Magnér 2015), crops (Wu et al 2012), surface water (Zhou et al 2009;Mei et al 2018), groundwater and even drinking water (Carvalho et al 2013;Cetecioglu et al 2013). To date, several sludge and wastewater technologies have been proposed to solve this problem, and include conventional activated sludge and membrane bioreactor treatments, sedimentation, hydrolysis and chlorination (Carvalho et al 2013;Cetecioglu et al 2013;Jung et al 2015;Krzeminski et al 2019). However, treatment efficiencies are still very low and/or involve high costs, require high energy input, and may produce residual toxic by-products (Trapido et al 2014;Jung et al 2015;Silva et al 2016;Hasan et al 2016;Campbell 2017).…”