TY - JOUR
T1 - Removal of contaminants of emerging concern from real wastewater by an innovative hybrid membrane process – UltraSound, Adsorption, and Membrane ultrafiltration (USAMe®)
AU - Naddeo, Vincenzo
AU - Secondes, Mona Freda N.
AU - Borea, Laura
AU - Hasan, Shadi W.
AU - Ballesteros, Florencio
AU - Belgiorno, Vincenzo
N1 - Funding Information:
The research work was cooperatively supported by the CHED Faculty Development Program, the Sanitary Environmental Engineering Division of the University of Salerno, the University of the Philippines – Diliman, and the University of Negros Occidental – Recoletos. The research activities were partially funded by FARB projects of the University of Salerno (n. ORSA167105; ORSA154525) and are linked to the international project n. EG16MO01 funded by Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The authors gratefully thank Paolo Napodano for the cooperation and the precious help given during the research activity.
Funding Information:
The research work was cooperatively supported by the CHED Faculty Development Program, the Sanitary Environmental Engineering Division of the University of Salerno, the University of the Philippines ? Diliman, and the University of Negros Occidental ? Recoletos. The research activities were partially funded by FARB projects of the University of Salerno (n. ORSA167105; ORSA154525) and are linked to the international project n. EG16MO01 funded by Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The authors gratefully thank Paolo Napodano for the cooperation and the precious help given during the research activity.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2020/11
Y1 - 2020/11
N2 - The low-level presence of emerging contaminants (ECs) in the environment has raised a great concern due to their persistence, chronic toxicological, and endocrine disrupting effects on terrestrial and aquatic organisms. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have become hotspots for the spread of these contaminants to the environment as conventional processes are not efficient in removing them. Thus, the integration of advanced treatment methods within the chain of WWTPs is very essential. In this study, the innovative hybrid process USAMe® which integrates ultrasound irradiation (US), adsorption (A) and membrane filtration (Me) was investigated for the removal of ECs from secondary effluents. Diclofenac, carbamazepine, and amoxicillin were selected due to their large consumption and frequent presence in the aquatic environment. All three ECs were spiked into real secondary wastewater effluent at two concentrations of 10 ppm and 100 ppb. Membrane ultrafiltration and its combination with US (USMe) or adsorption (AMe) were also studied as control tests. The hybrid combination of all the three methods in the USAMe® processes elevated the EC removals to above 99% as compared to only around 90% in the AMe process. All effluents of the hybrid USAMe® processes gave “No Effect” to D. magna, with immobilization of ≤20%. Therefore, results showed that the USAMe® process was efficient in not only removing ECs, but also in generating safe and less toxic treated effluents; thereby displaying its potential as an advanced method for wastewater treatment.
AB - The low-level presence of emerging contaminants (ECs) in the environment has raised a great concern due to their persistence, chronic toxicological, and endocrine disrupting effects on terrestrial and aquatic organisms. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have become hotspots for the spread of these contaminants to the environment as conventional processes are not efficient in removing them. Thus, the integration of advanced treatment methods within the chain of WWTPs is very essential. In this study, the innovative hybrid process USAMe® which integrates ultrasound irradiation (US), adsorption (A) and membrane filtration (Me) was investigated for the removal of ECs from secondary effluents. Diclofenac, carbamazepine, and amoxicillin were selected due to their large consumption and frequent presence in the aquatic environment. All three ECs were spiked into real secondary wastewater effluent at two concentrations of 10 ppm and 100 ppb. Membrane ultrafiltration and its combination with US (USMe) or adsorption (AMe) were also studied as control tests. The hybrid combination of all the three methods in the USAMe® processes elevated the EC removals to above 99% as compared to only around 90% in the AMe process. All effluents of the hybrid USAMe® processes gave “No Effect” to D. magna, with immobilization of ≤20%. Therefore, results showed that the USAMe® process was efficient in not only removing ECs, but also in generating safe and less toxic treated effluents; thereby displaying its potential as an advanced method for wastewater treatment.
KW - Activated carbon
KW - Advanced treatment
KW - Pharmaceuticals
KW - Sonication
KW - Ultrafiltration
KW - Ultrasonic irradiation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85086820229&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2020.105237
DO - 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2020.105237
M3 - Article
C2 - 32599167
AN - SCOPUS:85086820229
SN - 1350-4177
VL - 68
JO - Ultrasonics Sonochemistry
JF - Ultrasonics Sonochemistry
M1 - 105237
ER -
