Fate and Removal Mechanisms of Macrolide Antibiotics in Activated Sludge Batch – Biosorption/Biodegradation
Date Issued
2012
Date
2012
Author(s)
Wu, Chien-Ju
Abstract
Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) have become inseparable in our daily life. Worldwide extensive consumption have undoubtedly led to overwhelming spread of “emerging contaminants”, which were previously unknown and currently unregulated chemical compounds that could cause adverse health effects to not only the aquatic organisms but also to humans. Among this large group of emerging contaminants, antibiotics represent a significant portion of concern because of their potential impact on the spread and maintenance of antimicrobial resistance. Significant amounts of ingested antibiotics are excreted un-metabolized and they enter wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) through sewage system. Unfortunately, most of the currently available wastewater treatment processes, i.e. coarse screening, activated sludge treatment and settling tank do not provide adequate removal of pharmaceuticals which allows continual discharge of antibiotics into natural environment and eventually into our drinking water sources. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to investigate in detail the removal mechanisms of macrolide antibiotics (Roxithromycin, ROX) in contact with activated sludge process. More specifically, relative contribution of biosorption and biodegradation for the removal of ROX over time are experimented. In addition, ultrasonic assisted sludge extraction for Erythromycin-H2O (ERY-H2O) is also experimented and examined with previously published research journals. The results obtained in this research illustrates: 1.) biosorption is the predominant removal mechanisms for roxithromycin during the first two days of activated sludge treatment for up to 25% removal efficiency and only until approximately 48 hours later did biodegradation starting to take place. 2.) even after 30 days of activated sludge treatment, a little more than 20% of roxithromycin still remains in the reactor waiting to be biodegraded. 3.) pseudo-first-order model suggests a reaction rate of 0.0456 μg/L.d with half-life of 15.4 days. 4.) ERY-H2O appeared to be extremely persistent once adsorbed on the sludge, alternative extraction technique such as pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) should be considered if fate of ERY-H2O is to be investigated in detail.
Subjects
macrolide antibiotics
biosorption
biodegradation
activated sludge
SDGs
Type
thesis
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