Emerging pollutants and antibiotics removed by conventional activated sludge followed by ultraviolet radiation in a municipal wastewater treatment plant in Mexico

Abstract

Different groups of emerging pollutants (EPs) were identified (drugs, pesticides, hormones, illicit drugs, and fire retardant), and the removal of four antibiotics was determined (sulfamethoxazole 62.2–94.4%, ciprofloxacin 71–83.1%, norfloxacin 82–89%, and ofloxacin 78–97.9%) in a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Acapulco, Gro. Mexico. The compounds were extracted from influent and effluent samples by solid phase extraction (SPE). The identification of non-target EPs was performed by liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). The antibiotic quantification was performed by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Most of the non-target compounds were detected only in the influent samples. Antibiotics levofloxacin and nalidixic acid, the anticonvulsants carbamazepine and oxycarbamazepine, the local anesthetic lidocaine, and the pesticide tridemorph were the main EPs not removed by the WWTP. In this study, it was shown that the Aguas Blancas WWTP does not manage to remove 100% of the various EPs identified in the effluent, although the elimination degree is high in most cases, despite being one of the model plants in Mexico.

Occurrence of Nine Antibiotics in Different Kinds of Sewage Sludge, Soils, Corn and Grapes After Sludge Spreading

“…Other authors have included this antibiotic among the emerging compounds with highest concentration in sludge in WWTPs (Okuda et al, 2009), with values ranging from 204 ng g −1 -8,680 ng g −1 . Also, the difficulty to remove it by means of the treatments usually applied in WWTPs has been previously described (Martínez-Orgániz et al, 2021). The other antibiotics detected, clarithromycin, norfloxacin and sulfadiazine, were present in 4, 2 and 1 of the samples, respectively, with the maximum value found for the later (reaching 400 ng g −1 ) in Vilagarcía´s WWTP.…”

Reuse of Treated Water from Municipal Treatment Plants in Mexico

“…According to the studies carried out by Martínez-Orgániz et al [34] and Martínez-Orgániz et al [69], the "Aguas Blancas" treatment plant complies with the requirements established according to Mexican Standards. The research proposes a modification in the treatment process to avoid the presence of various types of emerging contaminants, and microorganisms such as E. coli.…”

“…Therefore, understanding the fate of these pollutants in wastewater treatment can contribute to better management and improve the quality of treated effluents [30]. In Mexico, several studies have been conducted on the presence of ECs in aquatic ecosystems [31][32][33][34][35][36]. Water quality problems are severe and have a significant lag in their attention compared to those related to quantity and provision of services to the population.…”

Complementarity of two approaches based on the use of high-resolution mass spectrometry for the determination of multi-class antibiotics in water. Photodegradation studies and non-target screenings

“…The European Union suggests using solid-phase extraction–ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (SPE-UHPLC-MS/MS) as analytical method for the monitoring of these substances in waters, although a specific method is not proposed (Decision 2015/495/EU 2015 ; Decision 2018/840/EU 2018 ; Decision 2020/1161/EU 2020 ). As reported in literature, SPE is the most employed technique regarding the sample preparation procedure (Čizmić et al 2017 ; Gros et al 2013 ; Martínez-Orgániz et al 2021 ; Mokh et al 2017 ; Tuc Dinh et al 2011 ; Yuan et al 2019 ; Zheng et al 2022 ), and less studies apply other extraction techniques such as solid-phase microextraction (SPME) (Balakrishnan et al 2006 ; McClure and Wong, 2007 ; Mitani and Kataoka, 2006 ), dispersive solid-phase extraction (d-SPE) (Herrera-Herrera et al 2013a ; Wang et al 2019 ), liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) (Ashfaq et al 2016 ) and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) (Herrera-Herrera et al 2013b ). Regarding the analytical determination of antibiotics in wastewater, LC–MS/MS has been the most employed technique (Čizmić et al 2017 ; Martínez-Orgániz et al 2021 ; Mokh et al 2017 ; Rossmann et al 2014 ; Tong et al 2009 ; Tuc Dinh et al 2011 ; Yuan et al 2019 ).…”

“…As reported in literature, SPE is the most employed technique regarding the sample preparation procedure (Čizmić et al 2017 ; Gros et al 2013 ; Martínez-Orgániz et al 2021 ; Mokh et al 2017 ; Tuc Dinh et al 2011 ; Yuan et al 2019 ; Zheng et al 2022 ), and less studies apply other extraction techniques such as solid-phase microextraction (SPME) (Balakrishnan et al 2006 ; McClure and Wong, 2007 ; Mitani and Kataoka, 2006 ), dispersive solid-phase extraction (d-SPE) (Herrera-Herrera et al 2013a ; Wang et al 2019 ), liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) (Ashfaq et al 2016 ) and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) (Herrera-Herrera et al 2013b ). Regarding the analytical determination of antibiotics in wastewater, LC–MS/MS has been the most employed technique (Čizmić et al 2017 ; Martínez-Orgániz et al 2021 ; Mokh et al 2017 ; Rossmann et al 2014 ; Tong et al 2009 ; Tuc Dinh et al 2011 ; Yuan et al 2019 ). Other detectors were also used, such as diode array detectors (DAD), Orbitrap mass spectrometry (Orbitrap MS), time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ToF–MS) and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QToF-MS) (Diaz et al 2013 ; Kosma et al 2020 ; Pedrouzo et al 2008 ; Turiel et al 2005 ; Tylová et al 2013 ).…”