Comparative study of emerging micropollutants removal by aerobic activated sludge of large laboratory-scale membrane bioreactors and sequencing batch reactors under low-temperature conditions.
Four emerging micropollutants ibuprofen, diclofenac, estrone (E1) and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) were studied in large laboratory-scale wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) with high nitrifying activity. Activated sludge (AS) with sludge retention times (SRTs) of 12days and 14days in sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) and 30days, 60days and 90days in membrane bioreactors (MBRs) were examined at 8°C and 12°C. Concentrations of pharmaceuticals and their main metabolites were analysed in liquid phase and solid phase of AS by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). A remarkable amount of contaminants were detected in solids of AS, meaning the accumulation of micropollutants in bacterial cells. The biodegradation rate constants (Kbiol) were affected by SRT and temperature. MBR with a 90-day SRT showed the best results of removal. Conventional SBR process was inefficient at 8°C showing Kbiol values lower than 0.5lgSS(-1)d(-1) for studied micropollutants.
['Kruglova|Antonina|A|', 'Kråkström|Matilda|M|', 'Riska|Mats|M|', 'Mikola|Anna|A|', 'Rantanen|Pirjo|P|', 'Vahala|Riku|R|', 'Kronberg|Leif|L|']
D000332:Aerobiosis D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental D019149:Bioreactors D002853:Chromatography, Liquid D003080:Cold Temperature D004008:Diclofenac D004970:Estrone D007052:Ibuprofen D012722:Sewage D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid D062065:Waste Water D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
Ibuprofen Diclofenac Wastewater treatment Sludge retention time Estrogenic hormones