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Removal of pharmaceuticals from MWTP effluent by nanofiltration and solar photo-Fenton using two different iron
S Miralles-Cuevas1, I Oller1, J A Sánchez Pérez2
1Plataforma Solar de Almería-CIEMAT. Carretera Senés km 4, 04200 Tabernas (Almería), Spain.
Abstract:
In recent years, membrane technologies (nanofiltration (NF)/reverse osmosis (RO)) have received much attention for micropollutant separation from Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant (MWTP) effluents. Practically all micropollutants are retained in the concentrate stream, which must be treated. Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) have been demonstrated to be a good option for the removal of microcontaminants from water systems. However, these processes are expensive, and therefore, are usually combined with other techniques (such as membrane systems) in an attempt at cost reduction. One of the main costs in solar photo-Fenton comes from reagent consumption, mainly hydrogen peroxide and chemicals for pH adjustment. Thus, in this study, solar photo-Fenton was used to treat a real MWTP effluent with low initial iron (less than 0.2 mM) and hydrogen peroxide (less than 2 mM) concentrations. In order to work at neutral pH, iron complexing agents (EDDS and citrate) were used in the two cases studied: direct treatment of the MWTP effluent and treatment of the concentrate stream generated by NF. The degradation of five pharmaceuticals (carbamazepine, flumequine, ibuprofen, ofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole) spiked in the effluent at low initial concentrations (μg L(-1)) was monitored as the main variable in the pilot-plant-scale photo-Fenton experiments. In both effluents, pharmaceuticals were efficiently removed (>90%), requiring low accumulated solar energy (2 kJUV L(-1), key parameter in scaling up the CPC photoreactor) and low iron and hydrogen peroxide concentrations (reagent costs, 0.1 and 1.5 mM, respectively). NF provided a clean effluent, and the concentrate was positively treated by solar photo-Fenton with no significant differences between the direct MWTP effluent and NF concentrate treatments.
Insights
This study shows that solar photo-Fenton effectively removes pharmaceuticals from wastewater concentrate. Combining membrane filtration with this advanced oxidation process offers a cost-effective solution for micropollutant treatment.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Engineering
- Water Treatment Technologies
- Advanced Oxidation Processes
Background:
- Membrane technologies like nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) are effective for micropollutant removal from wastewater, but create a concentrate stream requiring treatment.
- Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) can remove micropollutants but are often costly.
- Solar photo-Fenton is a promising AOP, but reagent costs (hydrogen peroxide, pH adjustment) are a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficiency of solar photo-Fenton for treating municipal wastewater treatment plant (MWTP) effluent and NF concentrate.
- To assess the removal of specific pharmaceuticals under low reagent concentrations and solar energy.
- To investigate the use of iron complexing agents (EDDS, citrate) for neutral pH operation.
Main Methods:
- Pilot-plant scale solar photo-Fenton experiments were conducted on real MWTP effluent and NF concentrate.
- Five pharmaceuticals (carbamazepine, flumequine, ibuprofen, ofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole) were spiked at low concentrations (μg L⁻¹) and their degradation monitored.
- Low concentrations of iron (0.1 mM) and hydrogen peroxide (1.5 mM) were used, with EDDS and citrate for pH control.
Main Results:
- Pharmaceuticals were efficiently removed (>90%) from both MWTP effluent and NF concentrate.
- Low accumulated solar energy (2 kJUV L⁻¹) was required for efficient degradation.
- No significant difference in treatment efficiency was observed between direct MWTP effluent and NF concentrate.
Conclusions:
- Solar photo-Fenton is an effective and potentially cost-efficient method for treating micropollutants in MWTP effluents and NF concentrate.
- The combination of NF and solar photo-Fenton offers a viable strategy for comprehensive wastewater treatment.
- Low reagent and solar energy inputs make this process scalable and economically attractive.
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