A lab-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) has been innovatively applied to treat pharmaceutical wastewater containing organic matter, nutrients, and four corticosteroids. In particular, the MBR achieved >93% removal of the corticosteroids. Spanish researchers have achieved efficient removal of organic matter, ammonia, and four target corticosteroids in pharmaceutical industry wastewater, using a lab-scale submerged membrane bioreactor (MBR). The MBR was operated for a period of 20 weeks under a constant flux of 2.87 l/h m2 without substantial membrane fouling. Total organic matter removal, measured in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD), was on average over 99%. In terms of nutrients, 99% of the initial ammonia and 40% of the phosphorous were eliminated. The industrial wastewater was spiked with four target corticosteroids – levonogestrel (Levo), bethametasone valerate (Betha-V), bethametasone dipropionate (Betha-D), and medroxyprogesterone acetate (Medro) – at a final concentration of 100 μg/l in order to assess their elimination. Chemical analysis of the MBR effluent revealed that all the corticosteroids were removed at percentages higher than 93% in all cases. Source: filtsep
Source:
http://workingwithwater.filtsep.com/view/27559/membrane-bioreactor-for-treatment-of-pharmaceutical-wastewater-containing-corticosteroids/
