COMPARATIVE STUDY – PHARMACEUTICAL RESIDUES IN WASTEWATER AND SLUDGE FROM A MICORALGAE PLANT AND AN ACTIVATED SLUDGE PROCESS

• This study explores the possibility of using a microalgae based activated sludge – process (MAAS-process) to increase the reduction of pharmaceutical residues in outgoing wastewater, compared to a conventional wastewater treatment plant with activated sludge process. In an on-site study, residual sludge from four pilot scale digesters fed with primary sludge and waste activated sludge or microalgae were sampled and analysed for pharmaceutical residues. The aim of the study was to compare the reduction efficiencies of a microalgae based process with a conventional biological treatment and also to explore the reduction of the residues in the different process steps including the sewage sludge thickening before the anaerobic digestion, the digestion and the secondary treatment with the sludge dewatering process. The results show that the total reduction of pharmaceutical residues in the water phase appears to be significantly higher in the MAAS-process. The substance diclofenac was not degraded in any of the biological processes in the study. The reduction of pharmaceutical residues in digested sludge seems to be higher in mesophilic conditions compared with thermophilic conditions.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Naturresursteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Environmental Engineering (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Microalgae plant

municipal wastewater

anaerobic digestion

pharmaceutical residues

Biotechnology/Chemical Engineering

bioteknik/kemiteknik

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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