Behavior of tetracycline and macrolide antibiotics in activated sludge process and their subsequent removal during sludge reduction by ozone

Chemosphere
Lu WangZhimin Qiang

Abstract

Ozonation is a promising means for the reduction of excess sludge in wastewater treatment plants. However, little information is available on the removal of antibiotics during sludge ozonation. Therefore, this study investigated first the behavior of four commonly-used hydrophobic antibiotics, including three tetracyclines (tetracycline, oxytetracycline, and doxycycline) and one macrolide (azithromycin) in activated sludge process and then their removal during sludge reduction by ozone. Results indicate that the studied antibiotics were primarily transferred into the solid phase of activated sludge via sorption, which was a reversible, spontaneous, and exothermic process governed by surface reactions. Sludge ozonation could effectively remove 86.4-93.6% of the antibiotics present in the sludge at an ozone dose of 102 mg per gram of mixed liquor suspended solids and pH 7.2. The removal of studied antibiotics mainly proceeded through desorption and subsequent oxidation. Increasing the initial pH from 5.0 to 9.5 obviously enhanced the antibiotic removal during sludge ozonation. This study demonstrated that the activated sludge process coupled with sludge ozonation can simultaneously reduce excess sludge and eliminate antibiotics.

Citations

Jun 21, 2019·Water Environment Research : a Research Publication of the Water Environment Federation·Jia OuyangChein-Chi Chang
Aug 12, 2020·Critical Reviews in Biotechnology·Sicheng Shao, Xiangwei Wu
Apr 15, 2019·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Diana Ramos LimaCamille Biron
Jul 30, 2020·Journal of Environmental Management·Jing JiXiangkai Li
Jun 28, 2019·Environmental Science & Technology·Akashdeep Singh OberoiHui Lu

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