Analytical Study of Types and Quantity of Some Pharmaceutical Compounds in Treated Water from Khirbet Al-Samra Wastewater Treatment Plant in Jordan

Abstract

This study was conducted to detect some organic compounds used in the pharmaceutical industry in the treated wastewater generated from the Khirbet Al-Samra wastewater plant in Jordan, this water is mixed with fresh water at King Talal dam and then used in irrigation in Jordan Valley. To estimate the number of organic compounds present in treated wastewater and study the seasonal variation (winter vs summer), a group of reference chemicals were used, including commonly used pain relievers: Ketoprofen, Naproxen, Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, and two antibiotics, including Sulfamethoxazole, Erythromycin, in addition to Carbamazepine. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry is used for the analysis of some pharmaceutical compounds. Results of the study showed that the concentration of Diclofenac was 6.4µg/L in winter samples compared with 4.2µg/L in summer samples. Naproxen was also present in the samples at relatively high concentrations of 5.2µg/L in winter and 3.5 µg/L in summer. Ibuprofen concentrations ranged between 3.7 and 1.1µg/L in winter and summer samples. Carbamazepine was present in the winter and summer samples at 1.3µg/L. Other compounds, including Ketoprofen, Sulfamethoxazole, and Erythromycin were not detected in both winter and summer samples. It can be seen that the concentration of detected pharmaceutical compounds in summer samples for Diclofenac, Naproxen and Ibuprofen was less than that in winter samples. The presence of some pharmaceutical compounds in treated water is not considered a major health problem. However, it is still important to monitor and evaluate the content of pharmaceuticals in treated water that is used to irrigate crops.