Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 6, 2026

Blastomere Explants to Test for Cell Fate Commitment During Embryonic Development
14:08

Blastomere Explants to Test for Cell Fate Commitment During Embryonic Development

Published on: January 26, 2013

15.8K

Fate of pharmaceuticals during membrane bioreactor treatment: Status and perspectives

Yanling Gu1, Jinhui Huang1, Guangming Zeng1

  • 1College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control, Hunan University, Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China.

Bioresource Technology
|August 29, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Pharmaceuticals in wastewater are a growing concern. Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) show promise for removing these emerging pollutants, but further research is needed to optimize their effectiveness.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Water Treatment Technology

Background:

  • Pharmaceuticals are recognized as emerging pollutants in surface waters and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs).
  • Their presence poses a significant environmental and health concern.
  • Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) are increasingly studied for their potential in pharmaceutical removal.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the sources and occurrence of pharmaceuticals in WWTP influents.
  • To comprehensively discuss pharmaceutical removal in MBRs, including influencing factors and mechanisms.
  • To identify knowledge gaps and future research directions for pharmaceutical elimination in MBRs.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of experimental studies on pharmaceutical removal during MBR treatment.
  • Analysis of key factors affecting removal, such as MBR configuration and process parameters.
  • Discussion of proposed biodegradation and adsorption mechanisms.
  • Review of pharmaceutical transformation products.

Main Results:

  • MBRs are a focal point for research on pharmaceutical removal from wastewater.
  • Various factors influence the efficiency of pharmaceutical elimination in MBRs.
  • Biodegradation and adsorption are key mechanisms involved in pharmaceutical removal.
  • Transformation products of pharmaceuticals are also generated and require consideration.

Conclusions:

  • MBRs show potential for pharmaceutical removal, but optimization is needed.
  • Further research should focus on multiple influence factors, enhanced removal methods, and essential removal pathways.
  • Understanding the effects of pharmaceuticals on membrane fouling and improving the detection of transformation products are critical research areas.
Keywords:
AdsorptionAffecting factorsBiodegradationMBRPharmaceutical

More Related Videos

Operation of a Benchtop Bioreactor12:54

Operation of a Benchtop Bioreactor

Published on: September 12, 2013

92.1K
Construction and Characterization of a Novel Vocal Fold Bioreactor11:11

Construction and Characterization of a Novel Vocal Fold Bioreactor

Published on: August 1, 2014

9.6K

Related Concept Videos

Pharmaceutical Equivalents01:26

Pharmaceutical Equivalents

As defined by regulatory standards, pharmaceutical equivalents require generic drug products to have identical dosage forms and chemically identical active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). They must adhere to compendial or applicable standards for potency, content uniformity, disintegration times, and dissolution rates. In the case of modified-release dosage forms, variations in drug content are permissible as long as the delivered amount remains consistent with the innovator drug product.
204
Fates of Pyruvate01:20

Fates of Pyruvate

Pyruvate is the end product of glycolysis, where glucose is oxidized to pyruvate, simultaneously reducing NAD+ to NADH. Two molecules of ATP are also produced by substrate-level phosphorylation.
In aerobic organisms, pyruvate is metabolized via the citric acid cycle to produce reduced coenzymes NADH and FADH2. These coenzymes are then oxidized in the electron transport chain to produce ATP and, in the process, regenerate the NAD+ and FAD. As seen in some cell types and organisms, fermentation...
11.0K
Psychodynamic Perspectives on Personality01:27

Psychodynamic Perspectives on Personality

The psychodynamic perspective in psychology asserts that most personality functions operate unconsciously, outside of awareness. This means that the motives and emotions driving behavior often remain hidden, automatically buried in the unconscious mind as a defense mechanism to shield us from psychological distress. According to this theory, the unconscious mind contains thoughts, memories, and emotions that are too disturbing to face directly.
Psychodynamic theorists argue that unconscious...
1.6K
Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective01:23

Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective

In a study where individuals posing as strangers offered compliments and proposed casual sex to students, the responses differed significantly based on gender. Not a single woman accepted the proposal, while 70% of the men agreed. This outcome provides a useful scenario to explore through the lens of evolutionary psychology and social learning theory, highlighting the diverse perspectives on human sexual behaviors.
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
376
The Behavioral Perspective on Personality01:19

The Behavioral Perspective on Personality

Behaviorists view personality as primarily shaped by environmental reinforcements and consequences. According to this perspective, behavior is influenced by external stimuli, and individuals adjust their actions based on rewards and punishments. Over time, learning histories — accumulated patterns of reinforcement — play a significant role in shaping personality. Behaviors that lead to positive outcomes are reinforced, while those resulting in negative outcomes are diminished.
832
Social Cognitive Perspective on Personality01:30

Social Cognitive Perspective on Personality

Social cognitive perspectives on personality emphasize the importance of conscious awareness, beliefs, expectations, and goals in shaping behavior. These perspectives incorporate behaviorist principles, such as learning through reinforcement and conditioning, but extend beyond them by highlighting human reasoning and planning. Unlike traditional behaviorist views, social cognitive theory focuses on how individuals reflect on their past experiences and plan for future outcomes by considering...
1.0K