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Study of anaerobic biodegradation of pharmaceuticals and personal care products: application of batch tests

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Abstract

This study evaluated three types of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (methylparaben, ibuprofen and triclosan) at concentration levels of 300, 500, 1000 and 2000 µg/L by implementing batch tests using anaerobic processes and granular biomass. The study aimed to identify the mechanisms of biodegradation and sorption in the degradation of these compounds. The inoculum was granular sludge from a laboratory-scale anaerobic reactor. The characterization results of the inoculum showed an anaerobic biomass with high activity, good sedimentation and a high percentage of organic matter. The results of the removal of the pollutants showed high degradation percentages for methylparaben (close to 99%), with negligible sorption in the sludge. The results also showed insignificant ibuprofen sorption but removal close to 0%. Triclosan showed high biomass sorption and low biodegradation. In addition, at the concentrations tested, none of the compounds had a negative or inhibitory effect on the microbial populations of the system.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the GDCON group and the 2016–2017 Sustainability Research Fund of the University of Antioquia for funding this project.

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  1. Grupo GDCON, Facultad de Ingeniería, Sede de Investigación Universitaria (SIU), Universidad de Antioquia, calle 70 No 52 -21, Medellín, Colombia

    Y. A. Londoño & G. A. Peñuela

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  1. Y. A. Londoño
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  2. G. A. Peñuela
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Correspondence to Y. A. Londoño.

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Editorial responsibilty: M. Abbaspour.

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Londoño, Y.A., Peñuela, G.A. Study of anaerobic biodegradation of pharmaceuticals and personal care products: application of batch tests. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 15, 1887–1896 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-017-1562-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-017-1562-1

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