Afshin Takdastan, Adel Nazarzadeh, Nagmeh Oroogi, Parviz Javanmardi,
Volume 26, Issue 139 (8-2016)
Abstract
Background and purpose: Estrogen is a steroid hormone that enters water sources through urban and hospital waste water and is a serious threat to aquatic organisms, especially fish, and human health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of municipal and hospital waste water treatment, especially biological treatment in removal of estrogenic compounds.
Materials and methods: Estrogens in aqueous samples were determined by tracking. Fifty six samples were obtained from various locations in Ahwaz municipal wastewater treatment plant and hospital waste water treatment facilities within 8 months. The samples were analyzed using Electrochemiluminescence (ECL). The results were reported in units of ng/L.
Results: The average influent and effluent hormone levels in municipal wastewater treatment plant were 58.8 ng/ L and 5.4 ng/L, respectively. In hospital treatment plant the average influent estrogen level was 61.8 ng/L and the average effluent level was 10.8 is ng/L. The results showed that biological treatment using activated sludge can remove significant amounts of estrogen and could reduce its level to a value lower than international standards.
Conclusion: The removal mechanism of estrogen in biological treatment system, especially activated sludge are adsorption and biological degradation. Secondary treatment of wastewater is effective in reducing hormones that could be due to wastewater biological treatment.
Mohammad Ali Zazouli, Ehsan Abouee Mehrizi, Jamshid Yazdani Charati, Reza Ghorbanpour,
Volume 29, Issue 176 (9-2019)
Abstract
Background and purpose: One of the main problems of pollution of aquatic environments is hardly biodegradable chemicals with high toxicity such as antibiotics. If they are not removed from the wastewater, particularly the hospital wastewater, many health and environmental hazards are created. Therefore, appropriate management and treatment of this type of wastewater is highly necessary. This research aimed at investigating the efficiency of advanced oxidation process by ozone photocatalytic method combined with zinc oxide in removal of amoxicillin from wastewater.
Materials and methods: The present study was conducted on laboratory scale in a pre-designed reactor. The effects of ozone concentration (5-10 mg/min), catalyst concentration (0.25-1.5mg/l), amoxicillin concentration (10-100 mg/l), and pH (3-11) were investigated on the process efficiency by HPLC. Thirty specimens were studied using central composite design method and the information was evaluated by surface response method using Design Expert7. Data analysis was done applying ANOVA and regression analysis.
Results: The removal efficiency of amoxicillin was 93% under optimal conditions (ozone dose: 3 mg/min, pH 11, catalyst dose: 0.875 mg/l, and amoxicillin concentration: 55mg/l). ANOVA and regression analysis showed that the fitted model properly matched with laboratory results.
Conclusion: This study showed that the ozone photocatalytic process along with zinc oxide could be applied as a suitable and effective method in treatment of antibiotics in aqueous environments.
Narjes Yaghoubi, Ramazan Ali Dianati Tilaki, Esmaeil Babanejad Arimi, Fathollah Gholami-Borujeni,
Volume 34, Issue 242 (2-2025)
Abstract
Background and purpose: The presence of COVID-19 drugs in waters globally indicates that conventional wastewater treatment technologies have not been successful in removing them. This study aimed at investigating the efficiency of superchlorination and Fenton processes in removing favipiravir and hydroxychloroquine from hospital wastewater.
Materials and methods: In this study, the degradation of hydroxychloroquine and favipiravir from synthetic wastewater was carried out using superchlorination and the Fenton process at an experimental scale. The concentration of the remaining drugs in the treated samples was analyzed using HPLC-UV equipment. The effect of changes in the initial concentration of drugs, chlorine, [Fe²⁺], [H₂O₂] concentration, pH, and contact time was also investigated, and the optimal values for each of the desired parameters were determined. Mineralization was measured using a TOC Analyzer.
Results: Based on the results of this research, the optimal conditions in the superchlorination test include the following: the initial concentration of both drugs is 50 ppm, the optimal pH is 7, the chlorine concentration for favipiravir removal is 150 ppm, and for hydroxychloroquine, it is 200 ppm. The contact time is 60 minutes. Also, the optimal conditions of the Fenton process for favipiravir removal include: pH 7, initial concentration of 50 mg/L, [Fe²⁺] of 1 mmol/L, [H₂O₂] of 3 mmol/L, and contact time of 30 minutes. For hydroxychloroquine, the optimal conditions are as follows: pH 7, initial concentration of 50 mg/L, [Fe²⁺] of 0.5 mmol/L, [H₂O₂] of 0.5 mmol/L, and contact time of 10 minutes.
Conclusion: The conducted experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of superchlorination and the Fenton process in removing wastewater containing favipiravir and hydroxychloroquine. The efficiency of these methods in removing antibiotics with a similar structure or enhancing their biodegradability can also be investigated.
