Field performance investigation for constructed wetland clubbed with tubesettler for hospital wastewater treatment

Abstract

Pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs) are a concern owing to their toxicity to the aquatic environment. Several studies have investigated the removal of PhACs from wastewater by employing various treatments. However, hospital wastewater, a primary source of PhACs in wastewater, has yet to gain attention. Hence this study was conducted to investigate the efficiency of constructed wetlands coupled with tube settlers for hospital wastewater treatment. Constructed Wetlands (CWs) and tube settlers are economical and less energy-consuming wastewater treatment systems which can be employed to treat small community wastewater and enhance the effluent quality to conserve the environment. This study evaluates the combination of macrophyte CW-along with a tubesettler system to remove PhACs. The Constructed Wetland system was employed in series with tube settlers. Seven PhACs viz. paracetamol, ketoprofen, carbamazepine, lorazepam, Sulfamethoxazole, Ciprofloxacin, and Fluvastatin were analyzed for wastewater quality characterization. The removal efficiency of CW was 56 %, 72 %, 37 %, 54 %, 54 %, 53 %, and 46 % for PCM, KTF, CAB, LOR, SMZ, CIP and FUT respectively. The study concluded that CW could be successfully used to treat hospital wastewater, and tube settlers can be employed as a polishing treatment for the effluent of CW.