Strategies to enhance the removal of the persistent pharmaceutically active compound carbamazepine by membrane bioreactors

Authors

Xueqing Li, University of WollongongFollow
Faisal I. Hai, University of WollongongFollow
Nichanan Tadkaew, University of WollongongFollow
Sara Gilbertson, University of Wollongong
Long Nghiem, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

40730

Publication Details

Li, X., Hai, F. Ibney., Tadkaew, N., Gilbertson, S. & Nghiem, L. Duc. (2011). Strategies to enhance the removal of the persistent pharmaceutically active compound carbamazepine by membrane bioreactors. Desalination and Water Treatment, 34 (1-3), 402-407.

Abstract

Carbamazepine, which is an anti-epileptic drug, is ubiquitously present in municipal wastewater. Owing to its recalcitrant chemical structure, carbamazepine is not significantly removed during conventional biological treatment or even by membrane bioreactor (MBR). With the ultimate aim of providing insights into the strategies to enhance carbamazepine removal, the effect of key operational parameters, namely, loading rate (2–750 μg/L• d), pH (5–9), mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) concentration (1–15 g/L) and dissolved oxygen (DO) (