Healthcare facility effluents as point sources of select pharmaceuticals to municipal wastewater

Effluents from four healthcare facilities were characterized for the concentration of 16 common active pharmaceutical ingredients. The sampled facilities included a hospital, nursing care, assisted living, and independent living facility located within a single municipal wastewater system in Texas. Eleven of the 16 monitored pharmaceuticals were detected in at least 1 healthcare facility effluent and 2 measured antibiotics (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) were detected in all 4 facility effluents. Active pharmaceutical ingredient concentrations ranged from non-detectable levels for several corticosteroids in all facility effluents to 180 microg/L sulfamethoxazole in the nursing care wastewater effluent. The mass of active pharmaceutical ingredients discharged to the municipality's wastewater conveyance system was determined by combining individual facility concentration data and daily wastewater flow. The estimated daily mass loading of all 16 pharmaceuticals ranged from 0.16 g/day to 23 g/day in the assisted living facility and nursing wastewater effluents, respectively. The combined active pharmaceutical ingredient mass loading for all four facilities was 42.6 g/day. These findings provide source characterization data for 16 common pharmaceuticals in healthcare facility wastewater and provide a basis for risk assessment of pharmaceuticals present in healthcare facility wastewaters.     

Remediation of waters contaminated with pentachlorophenol

We describe a simple method of remediating waters contaminated with pentachlorophenol (PCP), which involves filtering the water through clean soil. The filtrate is contaminant free and no PCP can be extracted from the soil. If the soil it treated with dilute acid, the filtrate is still contaminant free but 28.7% of the PCP can be extracted from the contaminated soil. Irradiating the soil with microwave energy either destroys or binds the PCP to the soil irreversibly such that none can be extracted after long periods of time.     

Toxicity of leather tanning wastewater effluents in sea urchin early development and in marine microalgae

This study was designed to investigate the composition and the toxicity of leather tanning wastewater and conditioned sludge collected at the leather tanning wastewater treatment plant (CODISO) located in Solofra, Avellino (Southern Italy). Samples were analyzed for their conventional parameters (COD, TSS, chromium and ammonia) and for metal content. Effluent samples included raw wastewater, and samples collected following coagulation/flocculation process and biological treatment. A set of toxicity endpoints were tested using sea urchin and marine microalgal bioassays by evaluating acute embryotoxicity, developmental defects, changes in sperm fertilization success and transmissible damage from sperm to the offspring, and changes in algal growth rate. Dose-related toxicity to sea urchin embryogenesis and sperm fertilization success was exerted by effluent or sludge samples according to the following rank: conditioned sludge > coagulated effluent > or = raw influent > effluent from biological treatment. Offspring quality was not affected by sperm exposure to any wastewater or to sludge samples. Algal growth was inhibited by raw or coagulated effluent to a similar extent and, again, the effluent from the biological treatment resulted in a decreased toxicity. The results suggest that coagulated effluent and conditioned sludge result in higher toxicity than raw influent in sea urchin embryos and sperm, whereas the biological wastewater treatment of coagulated effluent, in both sea urchins and algae, cause a substantial improvement of wastewater quality. Hence a final biological wastewater treatment should be operated to minimize any environmental damage from tannery wastewater.     

A fingerprint analysis method for characterization of dissolved organic matter in secondary effluents of municipal wastewater treatment plant

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) in wastewater and reclaimed water is related to water quality, safety, and treatability. In this study, DOM was characterized through a fingerprint analysis method for DOM characterization using resin fractionation followed by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). Resin fractionation was used in the first step to divide the DOM in water samples into six resin fractions, namely, hydrophobic acids (HOA), hydrophobic bases (HOB), hydrophobic neutrals (HON), hydrophilic acids (HIA), hydrophilic bases (HIB), and hydrophilic neutrals (HIN). SEC analysis was then performed to separate each resin fraction into several (n) subfractions with different molecular weights (MW). Thus, the total DOM in the water sample was fractionated into 6n subfractions. After quantification of each subfraction by dissolved organic carbon (DOC), a fingerprint graph was constructed to express the distribution of DOM in the subfractions. The fingerprint analysis method was applied to a secondary effluent sample during ozonation. Ozonation (dose of 10 mg L^?1) removed the DOC only by 8 % and reduced UV₂₅₄ of the sample by 36 %. Fingerprint graphs also revealed that the resin fractions changed quite limitedly but transformation of subfractions occurred notably.     

Treatment of wastewater effluents with Phillipsite-rich tuffs

The presence of abundant zeolites in association with volcanic pumiceous materials in Tererife (Canary Islands) prompted us to study their properties as a water purifying bed for inorganic contaminants, pathogenic bacteria, and soluble organic matter. The experimental model used was a chemical percolation reactor with a constant flux of solution, where the fixation kinetics were studied by comparing the input and the output solutions. The ammonium and phosphate retention values found after 10 days of constant percolation were 70% and 14%, respectively. In addition, a high reduction of soluble organic matter was observed, as well as the total removal of the bacteria species studied. The N-P-K values of the soluble and exchangeable nutrients indicate the potential capacity of the bed as a slow-release fertilizer.     

Analysis of organic nitrogen removal in municipal wastewater by reverse osmosis

The results of a pilot study that was conducted to determine the total nitrogen removal by the reverse osmosis process are presented. The organic nitrogen removal rates are compared with removals observed from three full-scale reverse osmosis facilities and four pilot studies. The results of this analysis suggest that organic nitrogen removal is variable and that reverse osmosis may not consistently produce total nitrogen levels less than 1.0 mg/L without additional treatment. Three hypotheses to explain the variability in organic nitrogen removal in the different data sets are presented.     

仿生植物处理城市生活污水研究

选择成本相对低廉的3种不同材料构建仿生植物,研究不同材料构建的仿生植物对污染水体的净化效果,筛选出性价比较好的仿生植物材料,并分别进行原位挂膜培养和专有菌株挂膜培养.结果表明,原位培养的生物膜对COD去除效果较好,平均去除率为76.92％专有菌株培养的生物膜对氨氮的去除效果较好,平均去除率达到了91.47％;2种挂膜方式对TP的去除率较为接近,平均去除率分别为73.04％和70.43％.     

Toxicity of pentachlorophenol to native aquatic species in the Yangtze River

Introduction  

While the literature is replete with studies of the toxic potency of pentachlorophenol (PCP), site-specific criteria for native aquatic species that can be used in ecological risk assessments has been lacking and application of toxicity information for non-native species is controversial.     

Synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates in municipal wastewater treatment.

Biologically derived polyesters known as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) represent a potentially "sustainable" replacement to fossil-fuel-based thermoplastics. However, current commercial practices that produce PHA with pure microbial cultures grown on renewable, but refined, feedstocks (i.e., glucose) under sterile conditions do not represent a sustainable commodity. Here, we report on PHA production with a mixed microbial consortium indigenous to an activated sludge process on carbon present in municipal wastewaters. Reactors operated under anaerobic/aerobic and aerobic-only mode and fed primary solids fermenter liquor maintained a mixed microbial consortium capable of synthesizing PHA at 10 to 25% (w/w), while reducing soluble COD by approximately 62 to 71%. More critically, an aerobic batch reactor seeded from the anaerobic/aerobic reactor and fed fermenter liquor achieved approximately 53% PHA (w/w). Results presented suggest that environmentally benign production of biodegradable polymers is feasible. We further used PHA-rich biomass to produce a natural fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composite that can be used to offset advanced wastewater treatment costs.     

Determination of fluoroquinolone antibiotics in wastewater effluents by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and fluorescence detection

The occurrence of quinolone antibiotics (QAs) was investigated in wastewater effluents and surface river/lake waters in the US and Canada by using solid-phase extraction with mixed phase cation exchange disk cartridge and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and liquid chromatography fluorescence detection (LC-FLD). Ofloxacin (OFL) was detected in secondary and final effluents of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in East Lansing, Michigan, at concentrations of 204 and 100 ng/l, respectively. The mass flow calculation, estimated by multiplying the OFL concentration in the final effluent by the average influent volume of the WWTP, showed that the discharge of OFL to the river was 4.8 g/day. The OFL concentrations in wastewater effluents measured in this study are comparable to or less than those observed in several European countries. QAs were not detected in river and lake waters analyzed in this study, which may due to dilution effects and to the higher detection limits, relative to those reported previously. OFL concentrations were approximately 1-2 orders of magnitude lower than the EC50 concentrations for environmental bacterium. However, greater concentrations of other QAs in sewage sludge from WWTPs may result in cumulative effects. Considering that the sewage sludge is applied to the land as fertilizers, soil-dwelling organisms could experience greater exposures to such antibiotics. Monitoring studies of QAs in sewage from WWTPs and in sediment/soil near aquaculture facilities and livestock farms will be necessary for the evaluation of the environmental distribution and risk of these compounds.     

Biodegradation of low aqueous concentration pentachlorophenol (PCP) contaminated groundwater

Bioremedial treatment to remove low level organic contamination to regulatory standards has met with limited success. In this study source water from a contaminated surficial aquifer at a former wood treatment facility was used to evaluate the potential for indigenous microorganisms to degrade low level (< 1.0 mg) pentachlorophenol (PCP) to a regulatory drinking water standard of 0.001 mg/L. PCP degradation was evaluated in series of batch reactors in a two phase study to (a) determine the rate and extent of PCP removal and (b) evaluate the impact of nutrient amendment (N and P) on removal rate. All reactors with the exception of the abiotic control demonstrated PCP removal to a level < 0.002 mg/L within a maximum period of 32 d with and without nutrient amendment. A regression analysis of reactive phosphate (ortho-P) concentration versus removal rate produced an R2 of 0.94 (p = 0.006) indicating a significant correlation between the level of available phosphate and PCP degradation rate. Selective bacterial enumeration (for PCP degrading bacteria) revealed PCP-degrading bacteria increased in abundance prior to and in conjunction with the degradation phase to a density of between 10(3) to 10(4) CFU/ml. Isolates were also analyzed for total fatty acids using Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) methodology and the results indicated that PCP degrading bacteria were present in the aquifer and consisted of predominately fluorescent, oxidase positive Pseudomonas species. Overall, data indicate that autochthonous microbes are capable of removing low level PCP (< 1.0 mg/L) to approach if not reach the regulatory standard of 0.001 mg/L with the addition of oxygen, with or without nutrient amendment. Results of this research can be applied to full-scale implementation of in-situ or ex-situ bioremediation of groundwater at former wood treatment facilities.     

Treatment of municipal wastewater by membrane bioreactor: a pilot study

The operational performance of a submerged hollow fibre Membrane Bio-Reactor (MBR) for treatment of municipal wastewater on pilot scale was investigated. The experimental results indicated that the removal efficiency for SS, COD, NH₄-N, turbidity, bacterium, iron (Fe²⁺) and Manganese (Mn²⁺) was 100%, 94.5%, 98.3%, 99.7%, lg6, 99%, 92.3%, respectively. The water quality of the effluent was quite good. The reclaimed water could be reused either directly or indirectly for municipal or industrial purposes. The MBR had a strong ability to resist loading shock and DO was a crucial factor to membrane fouling.     

城市污水处理厂除臭技术

介绍了城市污水处理厂臭气来源、成分及产量。针对目前国内外除臭技术的研究和发展情况，分析了污水处理厂的各种物理、化学和生物除臭方法的技术原理、优缺点和应用现状。结合日本城市污水处理厂的运行实际，重点介绍了一种不产生臭气的新技术——腐殖活性污泥法的工艺流程、特点及其应用现状。     

The carbon-sequestration potential of municipal wastewater treatment

The lack of proper wastewater treatment results in production of CO(2) and CH(4) without the opportunity for carbon sequestration and energy recovery, with deleterious effects for global warming. Without extending wastewater treatment to all urban areas worldwide, CO(2) and CH(4) emissions associated with wastewater discharges could reach the equivalent of 1.91 x 10(5) t(CO2)d(-1) in 2025, with even more dramatic impact in the short-term. The carbon sequestration benefits of wastewater treatment have enormous potential, which adds an energy conservation incentive to upgrading existing facilities to complete wastewater treatment. The potential greenhouse gases discharges which can be converted to a net equivalent CO(2) credit can be as large as 1.91 x 10(5) t(CO2)d(-1) in 2025 by 2025. Biomass sequestration and biogas conversion energy recovery are the two main strategies for carbon sequestration and emission offset, respectively. The greatest potential for improvement is outside Europe and North America, which have largely completed treatment plant construction. Europe and North America can partially offset their CO(2) emissions and receive benefits through the carbon emission trading system, as established by the Kyoto protocol, by extending existing technologies or subsidizing wastewater treatment plant construction in urban areas lacking treatment. This strategy can help mitigate global warming, in addition to providing a sustainable solution for extending the health, environmental, and humanitarian benefits of proper sanitation.     

Catalytic oxidation of pentachlorophenol in contaminated soil suspensions by Fe+3-resin/H2O2

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is a wood preserving agent that is commonly found in contaminated soils at wood treatment sites. The catalytic properties of Fe+3-resin for the oxidation of PCP in aqueous solution and soil suspension with H2O2 were tested. Batch tests in aqueous solution were performed at various dosages of catalyst and H2O2, and reaction temperatures. The results showed that the oxidation of PCP in aqueous solution depends on the dose of H2O2 and the temperature. Essentially complete oxidation of 100 mgl(-1) PCP was obtained with 0.5% Fe+3-resin catalyst, 0.1 M H2O2 and at a reaction temperature of 80 degrees C. The oxidation of PCP achieved in three different soil suspensions was more than 94% within 30-50 min. Moreover, it was demonstrated that the same Fe+3-resin could be reused for at least six cycles of PCP oxidation in soil solutions without loss in efficiency unless the pH of the reaction falls below 5. It was proposed that the loss in used Fe+3-resin catalyst activity could be related to the leaching of Fe+3 at low pH.     

Identification of relevant micropollutants in Austrian municipal wastewater and their behaviour during wastewater treatment

The European Union has defined environmental quality standards (EQSs) for surface waters for priority substances and several other pollutants. Furthermore national EQSs for several chemicals are valid in Austria. The study investigated the occurrence of these compounds in municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents. In a first screening of 15 WWTPs relevant substances were identified, which subsequently were monitored in 9 WWTPs over 1 year (every 2 months). Out of 77 substances or groups of substances (including more than 90 substances) 13 were identified as potentially relevant in respect to water pollution and subjected to the monitoring, whereas most other compounds were detected in concentrations far below the respective EQS for surface waters and therefore not further considered. The preselected 13 compounds for monitoring were cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), diuron, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), di(ethyl-hydroxyl)phthalate (DEHP), tributyltin compounds (TBT), nonylphenoles (NP), adsorbable organic halogens (AOX) and the complexing agents ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as well as nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA). In the effluents of WWTPs the concentrations of the priority substances Cd, NP, TBT and diuron frequently exceeded the respective EQS, whereas the concentrations for DEHP and Ni were below the respective EQS. The effluent concentrations for AOX, EDTA, NTA, Cu, Se and Zn frequently are in the range or above the Austrian EQS for surface waters. Besides diuron and EDTA all compounds are removed at least partially during wastewater treatment and for most substances the removal via the excess sludge is the major removal pathway. For the 13 compounds which were monitored in WWTP effluents population equivalent specific discharges were calculated. Since for many compounds no or only few information is available, these population equivalent specific discharges can be used to assess emissions from municipal WWTPs to surface waters as well as to make a first assessment of the impact of a discharge on surface waters chemical status. Comparing discharges and river pollution on a load basis, the influence of diffuse sources becomes obvious and therefore should also be taken into consideration in river management.     

城市污水生物处理系统中微生物酶的活性及其分布

通过水解模式底物进行分光光度测定的方法,研究了城市污水生物处理系统中微生物酶的活性.选取亮氨酸氨基肽酶、β-葡萄糖苷酶、碱性磷酸酶和脂酶等胞外酶进行分析,结果发现4种胞外酶的平均活性在31.O～88.5 μmol/(L·h),其中76.9%～94.8%的酶活性分布在活性污泥中,说明绝大部分胞外酶是与细胞相连或固定在细胞外多聚絮体基质里.混合水样和出水水样中的DOC几乎相等,而各胞外酶与DOC不存在任何显著的相关关系.增加NO3-浓度可提高亮氨酸氨基肽酶和β-葡萄糖苷酶的活性,但对碱性磷酸酶和脂酶却有明显的抑制作用.     

Fate of cancerostatic platinum compounds in biological wastewater treatment of hospital effluents

The present work focuses on the fate of two cancerostatic platinum compounds (CPC), cisplatin and carboplatin, as well as of two inorganic platinum compounds, [PtCl₄]²⁻ and [PtCl₆]²⁻ in biological wastewater treatment. Laboratory experiments modelling adsorption of these compounds onto activated sludge showed promising specific adsorption coefficients K_D and K_OC and Freundlich adsorption isotherms. However, the adsorption properties of the investigated substances were differing significantly. Adsorption decreased following the order cisplatin > [PtCl₆]²⁻ > [PtCl₄]²⁻ > carboplatin. Log K_D-values were ranging from 2.5 to 4.3 , log K_OC from 3.0 to 4.7.

A pilot membrane bioreactor system (MBR) was installed in a hospital in Vienna and fed with wastewater from the oncologic in-patient treatment ward to investigate CPC-adsorption in a sewage treatment plant. During three monitoring periods Pt-concentrations were measured in the influent (3–250 μg l⁻¹ Pt) and the effluent (2–150 μg l⁻¹ Pt) of the treatment plant using ICP-MS. The monitoring periods (duration 30 d) revealed elimination efficiencies between 51% and 63% based on averaged weekly input–output budgets. The derived log K_D-values and log K_OC-values ranged from 2.4 to 4.8 and from 2.8 to 5.3, respectively. Species analysis using HPLC-ICP-MS proofed that mainly carboplatin was present as intact drug in the influent and – due to low log K_D – in the effluent of the MBR.     

城市污水厂混合污泥的生态稳定处理

城市污水厂初沉池和二沉池混合污泥利用由蚯蚓和微生物共同组成的人工生态系统进行稳定处理。蚯蚓生态床可集污泥浓缩、调理、脱水、稳定、处置和综合利用等多种功能于一身：(1)蚯蚓和微生物将污泥作为生长营养源,对其进行分解和吸收;(2)蚯蚓生理代谢产生的蚓粪是高效农肥和土壤改良剂;(3)在生态床中增殖的蚯蚓具有重要的饲料和药用价值。污泥物质经蚯蚓污泥稳定床处理后,可全部被生态系统吸收利用和转化,具有流程简单、管理方便、无二次污染、造价和运行费用低廉、副产物具有经济利用价值等特点,为解决污泥的最终处置问题提供了生态利用的新途径。     

生物-生态组合工艺处理城市污水的启动研究

生物-生态优化组合工艺试验规模为100 m3/d,通过探索自然启动阶段生物-生态的优化组合模式,提高了启动中组合工艺的处理效能、缩短了处理效能波动时段,实现了向运行阶段的平稳过渡,为工程规模的启动提供了系统依据.研究表明,在启动阶段通过生物-生态优化工况组合,可达到组合工艺COD去除率90%、TN去除率40%～70%、TP去除率90%的去除效果.