Pharmaceutical adsorption from the primary and secondary effluents of a wastewater treatment plant by powdered activated carbon

<p>This study investigated the powdered activated carbon (PAC) adsorption of 13 pharmaceuticals from the primary (and secondary) effluents of a wastewater treatment plant. In addition to fresh PAC, PAC that was previously used for pharmaceutical elimination from the secondary effluent was also examined for its reuse potential in the primary effluent. The results showed a comparably negligible pharmaceutical uptake by fresh and used PACs in the primary effluent, in contrast to a substantial uptake by both PACs in the secondary effluent. This result indicated a severe adsorption competition induced from the primary effluent organic matter, i.e. the considerably higher constituents of low molecular and hydrophobic components. Furthermore, the competition effect even resulted in a desorption of the negatively charged pharmaceuticals from the used PAC into the primary effluent. It was concluded that adding fresh PAC to the secondary effluent is preferred and that recycling the used PAC into the activated sludge tank could not offer an additional pharmaceutical adsorption.</p

Additional file 1 of Financial, institutional, environmental, technical, and social (FIETS) aspects of water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions in indigenous - rural Indonesia

Additional file 1: S1. Rainfall per decade in East Sumba. S2. Land use map in East Sumba. S3. Relationship analysis between socio-economic characteristics and RANAS psychosocial factors. S4. Question guidelines for semi-structure interview