What is it about?
ABSTRACT The present study aims to investigate the efficiency of integrated effective microorganisms (EM) and membrane bioreactor (MBR) for eliminating pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs) from urine. Natural urine was separated using a ‘diversion toilet’. The toilet users were under medication with some pharmaceuticals, namely levofloxacine (LEF), ibuprofen (IBP) and atorvastatin (ATV). For correlation, three MBR pilot-scale sequences were examined. In Sequence 1, the MBR was used without pre-treatment. In Sequence 2, EM was added as pre-treatment in the mixing tank. The effluent was further treated with the MBR. In Sequence 3, EM was added directly to the activated sludge of the MBR. The results showed that Sequence 1 could decrease the PhACs from 10 mg/L to 1.5 mg/L, 0.5 mg/L and 0.9 mg/L for LEF, IBP and ATV, respectively. Sequence 2 exhibited remarkable improvement in PhACs removal. The overall residual concentration reached 0.7, 0.13 and 0.28 mg/L for LEF, IBP and ATV, successively. Applying Sequence 3 gives higher removal efficiency, where the residual concentration of LEF, IBP and ATV decreased to 0.50 mg/L, 0.10 mg/L and 0.22 mg/L, respectively. It was concluded that the contaminated urine was efficiently treated by adding EM directly to the activated sludge of the MBR, and the treated urine can be safely used as fertilizer. Hussein I. Abdel-Shafy (corresponding author) Water Research & Polluted Control Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt E-mail: hshafywater@yahoo.com Mona S. M. Mansour Analyses & Evaluation Department, Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, 1 Ahmed El-Zomor Street, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt Key words | effective microorganisms, membrane bioreactor, pharmaceuticals compounds, safe urine reuse, urine separation
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Why is it important?
The aim of the present study is to investigate the efficiency of the MBR on the one hand and the efficiency of combining EM with an MBR on the other hand, to eliminate PhACs from raw contaminated urine. The study was carried out on a pilot scale. The studied pharmaceuticals are levofloxacine (LEF), ibuprofen (IBP) and atorvastatin (ATV). The necessary trans-membrane pressure difference was applied by the water head above the membrane (gravity flow) to save the required energy. The detection of such selected PhACs throughout the 496 H. I. Abdel-Shafy & M. S. M. Mansour | EM/MBR for the elimination of pharmaceutical active compounds from urine Journal of Water Reuse and Desalination | 06.4 | 2016present study was conducted by high performance liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy (HPLC MS/MS)
Perspectives
CONCLUSIONS The MBR process is an excellent tool and is technically feasible for removing PhACs from urine. The MBR improves the physical–chemical characteristics of urine in terms of COD and BOD. The combination of EM and the MBR proved to be effective in removing PhACs from contaminated urine. Adding EM directly to the activated sludge of the MBR as one step is more feasible than adding it to a mixing tank as a pretreatment. It proved to be more efficient in the removal of PhACs from urine. The efficiency of the combined EM and MBR pilot study system will guide decision makers on a potential full-scale application and safe reuse of treated urine for agricultural purposes. RECOMMENDATION It is essential to remove the PhACs from sewage water or the separated urine before any application for agricultural or soil purposes due to the impact on soil and plants. The combination of EM and MBR is successful and efficient for the removal of PhACs.
Prof. Dr. Hussein I Abdel-Shafy
National Research Center
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This page is a summary of: Integration of effective microorganisms and membrane bioreactor for the elimination of pharmaceutical active compounds from urine for safe reuse, Journal of Water Reuse and Desalination, January 2016, IWA Publishing,
DOI: 10.2166/wrd.2016.141.
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