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The challenge of analyzing beta-blocker drugs in sludge and wastewater

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Abstract

In this study, different approaches were used to assess and overcome the severe effects of interference from the sample matrix from different types of sludges and wastewater on the analysis of nine beta-blockers and the beta sympathomimetic clenbuterol. The partitioning of the target compounds into sludge was investigated in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in both Canada and Germany to evaluate whether this is an important mechanism for removal from sewage. Due to ion suppression in the electro spray interface, absolute recoveries were for certain compounds even lower than 20%. By using surrogate standards, acceptable relative recoveries of >75% were achieved for WWTP influents and effluents and for sludges. These matrix effects underline the need to use appropriate surrogate standards to aid in analyte quantitation. Using the developed methods, beta-blockers were detected at concentrations up to 2 μg/L in WWTP effluents, with metoprolol, sotalol, and atenolol present as the dominant compounds. Removal rates within WWTPs were highly inconsistent and ranged from 1-69%. Propranolol showed the greatest degree of partitioning into sludge with solid/water partition coefficients of one order of magnitude higher than those for all other compounds. However, even for propranolol, sorption did not contribute significantly to the overall elimination in WWTPs. It is likely that the removal of beta-blockers during waste water treatment can be attributed primarily to microbial biodegradation.

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Acknowledgments

This study was part of ERAPharm project (SSPI-CT-2003-511135) and was financially supported by grants obtained from the EU Commission in the 6th Framework. We would like to thank the WWTP in Koblenz, Germany and WWTPs in Kitchener, Windsor, Elmira, Galt, and Peterborough in Ontario, Canada for providing wastewater and sludge samples. The German BMBF is acknowledged for covering the costs for exchanging of scientists Germany to Canada (CAN 05/003) within the Canada–Germany agreement program.

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Author notes

  1. Marco Scheurer

    Present address: DVGW-Technologiezentrum Wasser (TZW), 76139, Karlsruhe, Germany

  2. Maria Ramil

    Present address: University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

  3. Stefanie Groh

    Present address: Landesanstalt für Umwelt, Messungen und Naturschutz Baden-Württemberg (LUBW), 76185, Karlsruhe, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bundesanstalt für Gewässerkunde (BfG), 56068, Koblenz, Germany

    Marco Scheurer, Maria Ramil, Stefanie Groh & Thomas A. Ternes

  2. Worsfold Water Quality Centre, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, K9J 7B8, Canada

    Chris D. Metcalfe

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  1. Marco Scheurer
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  5. Thomas A. Ternes
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Correspondence to Thomas A. Ternes.

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Scheurer, M., Ramil, M., Metcalfe, C.D. et al. The challenge of analyzing beta-blocker drugs in sludge and wastewater. Anal Bioanal Chem 396, 845–856 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-009-3225-7

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