Performance evaluation of structured and packed bed reactor for removal of sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin

• Grant number: 15/04427-4
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): August 01, 2015
• Effective date (End): August 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Cooperation agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Zaiat
• Grantee: Rodrigo Braz Carneiro
• Home Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 17/13066-0 - Influence of hydrolytic and acidogenic activity on the anaerobic biotransformation of organic micropollutants, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

The occurrence, fate and potential impacts of antibiotics in the environment has attracted attention of researchers around the world in recent years. Although the concentration of antibiotics and their metabolites is considered low (around ng/L or µg/L) in the different environmental compartments, they are considered emerging contaminants because they can result in the development and spread of resistance genes in bacteria. This can lead in long-term impacts on the ecosystem, human health and even the economy, since these compounds are losing their antimicrobial effectiveness. Among the antibiotics, Sulfamethoxazole (Sulfonamide class) and Ciprofloxacin (Fluoroquinolone class) are the most frequently detected in various environmental matrices and are used in human and veterinary medicine. Currently studies of behavior and degradation of antibiotics are focused more in advanced physical-chemical processes (ozonation, activated carbon adsorption, ion exchange, membrane filtration, advanced oxidation processes) and aerobic biological processes (Activated Sludge and Membrane Bioreactors - MBR), and there are few studies focusing on anaerobic biodegradation processes for these compounds. Therefore, this study sought to determine the behavior of two anaerobic fixed bed reactors - structured and packed - in removing and biodegradation of Sulfamethoxazole and Ciprofloxacin, serving as a basis for comparison with other configurations of anaerobic reactors as UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket) and HAIB (Horizontal-flow Anaerobic Immobilized Biomass), and also with the existing aerobic systems. Furthermore, it is expected detect and quantify the possible metabolites formed, as well as to obtain the kinetic parameters of the degradation and perform ecotoxicological assays with the above pharmaceuticals. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CARNEIRO, RODRIGO B.; SABATINI, CAROLINA A.; SANTOS-NETO, ALVARO J.; ZAIAT, MARCELO. Feasibility of anaerobic packed and structured-bed reactors for sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin removal from domestic sewage. Science of The Total Environment, v. 678, p. 419-429, AUG 15 2019. Web of Science Citations: 0.