Fate of Pharmaceuticals in a Submerged Membrane Bioreactor Treating Hospital Wastewater

The fate of 12 pharmaceutical pollutants was investigated to understand their removal mechanism during hospital wastewater (HWW) treatment in submerged membrane bioreactor (SMBR). High concentrations anti-depressant (venlafaxine and desvenlafaxine), analgesic (ibuprofen hydroxy-ibuprofen), caffeine were detected the HWW entire study period. SMBR showed high >70% antibiotics (sulfamethoxazole clarithromycin), beta-blocker (acebutolol), hormone (estrone), via biodegradation. partial degradation diclofenac, venlafaxine, desvenlafaxine indicates growth promoter or agent requirement, which could facilitate metabolism co-metabolism these pharmaceuticals by microorganisms. demonstrated that major at optimized conditions biodegradation for majority examined pharmaceuticals. assessment performance low temperature 15 10°C resulted drop efficiency SMBR, affecting overall removal.