Pharmaceuticals and pesticides in secondary effluent wastewater: Identification and enhanced removal by acid-activated ferrate(VI)

Citation

Manoli, K., Morrison, L.M., Sumarah, M.W., Nakhla, G., Ray, A.K., Sharma, V.K. (2019). Pharmaceuticals and pesticides in secondary effluent wastewater: Identification and enhanced removal by acid-activated ferrate(VI). Water Research, [online] 148 272-280. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2018.10.056

Plain language summary

Waste water treatment plants are a source of pharmaceutical and pesticide contamination in the environment. This water get used in agriculture and is a potential risk for crop production. In this study we developed a method for analyzing waste water that allowed us to detect all of the compounds in the sample without the need to know what we were looking for first (non-targeted analysis). These samples were then treated with a process to degrade the contaminants and the samples were re-analyzed using our method. The results demonstrate the ability to remove contaminates from waste water prior to release into the environment.

Abstract

The emergence of resistance to antibacterial drugs and pesticides in water is unprecedented. This may have adverse consequences to human health and ecological systems. This paper first sought the identification of a wide range of pharmaceuticals and pesticides in two secondary effluent wastewaters (SEW) of different quality characteristics, followed by their removal by ferrate(VI) (Fe(VI), FeO42−). Screening for 22 pharmaceuticals and 32 pesticides, revealed that 11 pharmaceuticals and 3 pesticides in SEW of plant A, and 14 pharmaceuticals and 5 pesticides in SEW of plant B were present at concentrations higher than the liquid chromatography mass spectrometry method quantitation limit. The concentrations of pharmaceuticals and pesticides ranged from 0.15 ng/L-413.03 ng/L. Investigation of the removal of these pharmaceuticals and pesticides by Fe(VI) showed that some had recalcitrant activity towards their oxidation. Acid-activated Fe(VI) resulted in enhanced oxidation (12.6%–56.2% degradation efficiency) of 6 and 7 pharmaceuticals in SEW of plant A and plant B, respectively, at a shorter time than Fe(VI) without activation (i.e. 3–5 min versus 15–30 min). The degradation of 1 and 3 pesticides in SEW of plant A and plant B respectively, has also been enhanced by activating Fe(VI) (13.8%–86.2% degradation efficiency). Results on testing of organic matter characterization of treated SEW with and without acid-activated Fe(VI) treatment are also presented. Acid-activated Fe(VI) treatment has potential in enhancing the removal of micropollutants in real wastewater.

Publication date

2019-01-01

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