Abstract

We analyzed 13 psychoactive pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs and their metabolites in wastewater treatment plant influent and effluent and the possibility of their degradation by biological and chemical processes. Tramadol (413-853 ng/L) and methamphetamine (460-682 ng/L) were the most concentrated compounds in the wastewater in winter and summer, respectively. A significant decrease in the concentration of tramadol in wastewater was measured during the summer. The lowest efficiency was observed for tramadol, venlafaxine, citalopram and oxazepam (similar to 10%) and the highest efficiency was observed for amphetamine and THC-COOH (similar to 80%). The efficiency of compound degradation via the Fenton reaction, a modified Fenton reaction and different degradation (by algae, wood-rotting fungi and enzymes at influent versus effluent) was determined. The Fenton reaction and its modification were efficient at eliminating these substances in comparison with the tested biological processes. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Illicit drugs; Psychoactive pharmaceuticals; Degradation; Wood-rotting fungi; Enzymes; Fenton reaction

Published in

Environmental toxicology and pharmacology
2015, Volume: 39, number: 2, pages: 483-488
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

UKÄ Subject classification

Water Treatment
Water Treatment


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etap.2014.12.016

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/84667