Abstract
This research aims to assess the presence of four antibiotic compounds detected in the influent and effluent of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the POCTEFA territory (north of Spain and south of France) during the period of 2018–2019, and to relate the removal of antibiotic compounds with the processes used in the WWTPs. The performance of a photocatalytic TiO2/UV-VIS pilot-scale plant was then evaluated for the degradation of selected antibiotics previously detected in urban treated effluent. The main results reflect that azithromycin had the highest mass loadings (11.3 g/day per 1000 inhabitants) in the influent of one of the selected WWTPs. The results also show considerable differences in the extent of antibiotics removal in WWTPs ranging from 100% for sulfadiazine to practically 0% for trimethoprim. Finally, the photocatalytic TiO2/UV-VIS pilot-scale plant achieved the removal of the four antibiotics after 240 min of treatment from 78%–80% for trimethoprim and enrofloxacin, up to 100% for amoxicillin, sulfadiazine and azithromycin. The catalyst recovery via mechanical coagulation–flocculation–decantation was almost total. The Ti concentration in the effluent of the TiO2/UV-VIS pilot-scale plant was lower than 0.1% (w/w), and its release into the environment was subsequently minimized.
Highlights
The problem of the presence of pharmaceutical compounds in wastewater has recently become a matter for concern, in terms of human health, and for the preservation of the environment [1].Water 2020, 12, 1453; doi:10.3390/w12051453 www.mdpi.com/journal/waterAntibiotics are an important group of medicines suitable for the treatment of human infections and in veterinary medicine
The main difference with other organic pollutants is that antibiotics represent a potential risk if they are released into the environment because they a direct biological action on microorganisms, generating antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB)
This research work evaluates the behavior of four antibiotic compounds in four different wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) located in the north of Spain
Summary
The problem of the presence of pharmaceutical compounds in wastewater has recently become a matter for concern, in terms of human health, and for the preservation of the environment [1]. Antibiotics are an important group of medicines suitable for the treatment of human infections and in veterinary medicine. The main difference with other organic pollutants is that antibiotics represent a potential risk if they are released into the environment because they a direct biological action on microorganisms, generating antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB). Besides urban plants and hospitals, slaughterhouses generate wastewaters which are not usually incorporated into sewage systems. As a result, they represent a significant source of antibiotics released into the environment
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