Effects of pharmaceutical load on the effluent quality using sequencing batch reactor

Abstract

The effect of pharmaceutical load on the performance of laboratory scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) in terms of effluent quality and sludge settling ability was studied. The SBR was operated using low-strength domestic wastewater and spiked with a unique combination of drugs namely atenolol, gliclazide and prazosin after 21 days of reactor operation. Atenolol and gliclazide were spiked at concentration of 1000 μg/l while 100 μg/l for prazosin. Several parameters were observed which includes concentration of COD, ammonia, MLSS and SVI30. The effluent quality and sludge settling ability before and after drugs introduction were compared. The average COD removal efficiency before and after the introduction of pharmaceutical was 85% and 74%, respectively. The average ammonia removals were 84% and 62% before and after addition of pharmaceutical respectively. MLSS and SVI30 values was successfully maintained within desired value at the end of experiment indicating good sludge accumulation and sludge settling ability.