Determination of Biodegradation Kinetics of Select Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in an Activated Sludge System through Respirometry

<p>_{Information on biodegradation kinetics is important for the design and operation of activated sludge systems for removal of PPCPs. Removing PPCPs from a wastewater prevents harming the health of the environment and living organisms. A respirometry test method was used to measure the kinetic parameters of an activated sludge biomass degrading the pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) triclosan, caffeine, acetaminophen, estrone (E1), 17β estradiol (E2), and 17α ethinyl-estradiol (EE2). The activated sludge biomass used for respirometry testing was obtained from a local wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The plant treats municipal wastewater, and the activated sludge biomass was not acclimated to relatively high doses of PPCP substrates, those being greater than 100 μg/L. A series of tests were conducted using each substrate during the testing period. The kinetic parameters: yield (Y), half saturation coefficient (Ks), maximum specific growth rate (um), and maximum specific substrate utilization rate (qm ) were determined for triclosan and caffeine from the results of respirometry tests. The kinetic parameters for estrone, 17β estradiol, and 17α ethinyl estradiol, and acetaminophen were not determined due to lack of any measurable response of the biomass during testing. Triclosan was dissolved in acetone for testing. For triclosan, the Y, Ks, um, qm were determined to be 0.775 ± 0.046 mg COD/mg COD, 26.6 ± 10.9 mg SCOD/L, 0.213 ± 0.061 /hr, and 0.270 ± 0.065 mg SCOD/mg MLSS-hr, respectively, at the 95% confidence interval. For caffeine, the Y, , , was determined to be 0.662 ± 0.055 mg COD/mg COD, 16.9 ± 4.3 mg SCOD/L, 0.113 ± 0.020 /hr, and 0.169 ± 0.018 mg SCOD/mg MLSS-hr, respectively, at the 95% confidence interval.} </p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - University Access Only

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Year dc:date.available

2012

Author dc:creator

• Stonesifer, Joseph R.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Christopher Schmit

• Civil and Environmental Engineering

Statement dc:rights

• <p>In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted<br /><a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/</a></p>

Language dc:language

en

Repository record dc:identifier

https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/1350

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:openprairie.sdstate.edu:etd-2356