Aerobic Treatment of Pharmaceutical Wastewater in A Biological Reactor

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Volume 1, No 7, 2011
© Copyright 2010 All rights reserved Integrated Publishing Association
Research article ISSN 0976 – 4402
Aerobic treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater in a biological reactor
Mohammad Zakir Hossain Khan, Mostafa.M.G
Institute of Environmental Science, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
mostafa_ies@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
This study was designed a wastewater treatment plant with an aim at minimizing and/or
removing of suspended solids, dissolved solids, nutrients, and toxic compounds, before it
releases into a water body. A labscale batch type integrated aerobic biological treatment
plant was constructed and operated for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment and its
performance was evaluated. A cylindrical open tank was used as a reactor and passed air
through the bottom of the tank. The maximum hydraulic retention time was 15 days. The
treated water samples were collected every day and tested for its chemical oxygen demand
(COD), total suspended solids (TSS), pH, conductivity, and total dissolved solids (TDS) to
evaluate the efficiency of the plant. About 75% removal of COD was achieved employing
hydraulic residence times of 15 days. The analyses results of the treated wastewater reveal
that the parameters pH, BOD, COD, TSS, TDS and color were found within the prescribed
permissible limits indicating the efficiency of the plant. The results of this study demonstrate
the potential for air injection to accelerate the biological treatment process, with greatest
influence on COD removal from the wastewater.
Keywords: aerobic, biological, bioreactor, COD, TDS, TSS, and wastewater treatment
1. Introduction
The rivers of Bangladesh are mainly used for navigation purpose and to carries runoff water
from adjoining agricultural lands, which might contain industrial discharges. This river also
receives various untreated waste from the industries located on both sides of its bank. These
industries include, pharmaceutical, paper, dyeingfinishing, chemicals, vegetable oils etc. It is
well recognized that each development activity has an impact on the natural environment
directly or indirectly. As development activities are of prime importance for the economic
growth and fulfillment of basic needs of the society, the environmental aspects of development
activities must be taken into account and due attention must be paid to protect the environment.
In Bangladesh, most of the industries do not have any effluent treatment plant. Hence the
untreated effluents are being discharged in to nearby water bodies, polluted both the surface
and groundwater in adjacent areas. Therefore an effluent treatment plant (ETP) plays
important roles in maintaining surface water quality and the environment as a whole as well.
Fatta et al., 2005 suggested that treated effluent can be safely discharged into streams, rivers,
cannel, bay, lagoon or wetland, or it can be reused for, irrigation of a golf course, landscaping,
gardening, or groundwater recharge (Fatta et al., 2005).
Pharmaceuticals are complex molecules and are most notably characterized by their ionic
nature. Compounds having a complex chemical structure such as the pharmaceuticals
ketoprofen and naproxen were not eliminated during conventional treatment plants (CTP) but
were by membrane bioreactors (MBR) (Kimura et al., 2005). Pharmaceutical wastewater
contains substantial amounts of certain toxic compounds, antibiotics, steroids and xeno
Received on April, 2011 Published on June 2011 1797

Pharmaceutical Wastewater Treatment Using an Integrated Aerobic Bioreactor
estrogens. A number of reports were found on pharmaceutical wastewater treatment using
biological process (La Para et al., 2001: Carballa et al., 2004, 2005: Clara et al., 2005: Huber
et al., 2005: Joss et al., 2005).
Different physicochemical treatments have been employed in recent years for the removal of
nitrogenated and organic compounds in industrial wastewater treatment. The biological
treatment technology has been developed and used in different industrial wastewater
treatment process for last few decades (González et al, 2001 “a”, “b”: Ballinger et al., 1998:
Fang et al., 1993: Grupta and Sharma, 1996: Hirata et al., 2001: Joss et al., 2006: La Para et
al., 1999: Lida et al., 2003: Lübbecke et al., 1995). Efficiency of waste water treatment plants
and kinetics characteristics of biological process are usually studied through BOD and COD,
although difficulties are encountered in their measurement (Aziz et al., 1980). The biological
wastewater treatment facilities mainly depend on various conditions such as wastewater
composition, ecotoxicants and xenobiotics. Pretreatment of industrial wastewater before
biological treatment can be helpful for operating the biological treatment process. In
pretreatment stage, coarse and colloidal impurities are removed from the wastewater (Veitser
et al., 1984: Zapol et al., 1987: Gandurina, 2002). The quantification of water pollution was
restricted for monitoring biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand
(COD), nitrates, phosphates and total suspended solids (Metcalf and Eddy, 2003: ENISO
9887, 1994). The biological technology allows transforming the organic and inorganic
contaminants into gases and digested sludge.
This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of aerobic biological treatment process
considering the parameters including pH, TDS, EC, TSS, and COD. Aerobic condition
accelerate biodegradation at a much faster rate and to a greater extent than anaerobic
conditions in a given time period (Murphy et al., 1995). Moreover, biological reactors have
less construction cost, easy operational and maintenance procedures. This study constructed a
bioreactor for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment as this process has some advantages over
other treatment processes. An air injection was applied to the biological wastewater treatment
plant and access the performance of the plant. The treatment process of the bioreactor could
largely depend on aeration, especially the aeration rate and retention time and should be
subjected in the future study.
The aerobic digestion process consists of two reaction steps (Ros and Zupancic, 2002) and
these equations can be illustrated as follows:
+
Organic matter + NH 4 + O 2 → cellular material + CO 2 + H 2 O
……...………………. (1)

Cellular material + O 2 digested sludge + CO 2 +H 2 O +NO 3
………...….………… (2)
In the first step, organic matter is directly oxidized to biodegradable matter and then it is
subsequently oxidized to digested sludge.
Mohammad Zakir Hossain Khan, Mostafa.M.G 1798
International Journal of Environmental Sciences Volume 1 No.7, 2011
2. Materials and Methods
A batch type biological wastewater treatment process was carried out in a cylindrical open
tank, which was acted as an integrated bioreactor and air was passed through the bottom of
the tank at a rate of 10 L/hr. The air injection through the bottom of the reactor was deigned
to provide the mixing and ensures optimal contact between wastewater and biomass.
Diameter of the tank was about 38 cm and height was 60 cm. Air was passed through the
wastewater in the form of course bubble and the entire operation was carried out at room
temperature (30±1 o C). Commercial biodegradable bacteria (Ativa Bio Science, Mumbai,
India) were used, which consisted of maximum aerobic and minimum facultative bacteria.
The biodegradable bacteria 0.1g/L of wastewater were used. The samples were collected
everyday and analyzed using standard methods (APHA, 1998) in order to monitor the
biodegradation process taking place inside the reactors. Many parameters are used to
determine wastewater treatment performance. In this study the parameters analyzed were pH,
TDS, EC, TSS, and COD to evaluate the efficiency of the reactor. In this study aeration rate
was 10L/hr as this rate showed the optimum efficiency by reducing the maximum percentage
of COD compared to other aeration rates (5 and 20 L/hr). Therefore, the data obtained for
10L/hr are presented here. A schematic diagram of the bioreactor is shown in Figure 1.
3. Results and Discussion
3.1 pH
Throughout the study period, pH in the bioreactor varied from 7.0 to 9.0 (Fig. 2). It may be
illustrated that pH is slightly changing along the treatment process indicating alkalinity raised
with time. However, the days between 3 and 5, lowest pH level was shown, but then it
increased with time.
Cylindrical Jar
1'3"
2'
Course bubble system
Figure 1: Schematic diagram of batch type labscale biological wastewater treatment
plant (reactor).
The pH range was found within the prescribed permissible limit for the wastewater.
According to the Department of Environment (DoE), acceptable pH limit for surface water is
6~9. The study observed that there was no significant change in pH during the entire
operation period.
3.2 TDS
TDS is the total mass content of all inorganic and organic substances contained in a liquid in
the form of dissolved ions and molecules or suspended microgranules (colloidal sol.).
Generally the operational definition is that the solids must be small enough to survive
filtration through a sieve the size of two micrometer.
Figure 2: Effect of aeration on pH.
Effect of aeration on TDS with time is shown in Fig. 3. Result shows that TDS continue to

increase with time and TDS concentration of 600 mg/L was obtained on 15 days of retention
time. The study observed that average 0.3 l/day liquid was vaporized from the bioreactor and
Figure 3: Effect of aeration on Total dissolve solid (TDS).
this vaporization of liquid was the main cause of TDS increased. Thus in a continuous
process, TDS would not be increased with time. Moreover, permissible limit for TDS in
surface water is 2,100 mg/l according to Department of Environment, Bangladesh (DoE, BD)
standard, thus the increased in TDS in this study has no significant impact on maintaining the
waster quality standard.
3.3 Electric Conductivity (EC)
Effect of aeration on EC with time is shown in Fig. 4. Result shows that EC continue to
increase with time and EC value was found to be 1200µs/mol on 15 days of retention time.
Figure 4: Effect of aeration on electric conductivity (EC).
Generally EC increase when TDS increase. Here EC gradually increased, as a consequence of
TDS increased.
3.4 Total Suspended Solid (TSS)
Total suspended solids is a water quality measurement usually abbreviated TSS. It is listed as
a conventional pollutant.
Figure 5: Effect of aeration on total suspended solid (TSS).
Above figure 5 shows the variation of TSS due to aeration after a certain interval. Result
shows that TSS increased with time. TSS increased slightly sharply with time at the initial
stage, and then slowed with time. TSS was increased from 280 mg/L to 380 and 480 on day 3
and 5. About 30 and 50% TSS was increased on day 3 and 12. After settling, the TSS in the
settling tank, the maximum TSS will be removed and thus an improved water quality will
have to be achieved. This result showed a very good indication of the plant’s potentiality.
3.5 Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
In environmental chemistry, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) test is commonly used to
indirectly measure the amount of organic compounds in water.
Figure 6: Effect of aeration on COD.
Above figure 6 shows the variation of COD due to aeration after a certain interval. Result
shows that COD decreased with the interval of time. Another major achievement was the
decrease of COD, which decreased rapidly between fourth and ninth day, it is an important
part of wastewater treatment. In optimum conditions COD was reduced to over 60% in 9 days
and 75% in 15 days of retention time indication the efficiency of this plant.
4 Conclusions
The performance studies on a batch type pharmaceutical wastewater treatment plants was
evaluate for a period of fifteen days. The aged waste was already significantly stabilized at
the commencement of the study, such that the benefits provided through aeration were
limited due to batch type process and vaporization of wastewater. Aeration increased
wastewater pH slowly but it was within permissible limit as well as TDS. But the main
achievement was to decrease of COD and increase of TSS which are vital parts for
wastewater treatment process. The maximum COD removal efficiency achieved was 75% in
15 days of aeration time. The overall performance of the aerated batch type bioreactor was
satisfactory. Moreover the study suggests that a continuous process bioreactor could be more
potentially removed COD and TSS as the process has less vaporization effects.
This treatment plant is high potential for COD and TSS removal. Thus this treatment
technology can be considered as a potential plant for industrial wastewater treatment. Hence,
this is an environmental friendly, without much chemical used, easy operation, and cost
effective for industrial effluent treatment.
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to Dr. J.C. Saha and other employees of Enviro Consultant Ltd.,
Dhaka for their cooperation during this work.
5. References
1. APHA, AWWA, WEF, 1998, Standard methods for the examination of water and
wastewater, 20th edition. Washington, DC.
2. Aziz, J. A.; Tebbutt, T. H. Y., 1980, Significance of COD, BOD and TOC
correlations in kinetic models of biological oxidation, Water Research, 1980, 14, 319.
3. Ballinger, S. J., Head, I. M., Curtis, T. P., & Godley, A. R.,1998, Molecular microbial
ecology of nitrification in an activated sludge process treating refinery wastewater,
Water Science and Technology, 37(4–5), pp 105–108.
4. Carballa M, Omil F, Lema JM., 2005, Removal of cosmetic ingredients and
pharmaceuticals in sewage primary treatment, Water Research, 39(17), pp 4790–4796.
5. Carballa M, Omil F, Lema JM, Llompart M, GarciaJares C, Rodriguez I, Gomez M,
Ternes T., 2004, Behaviour of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and hormones in a sewage
treatment plant, Water Research, 38(12), pp 2918–2926.
6. Clara M, Strenn B, Gans O, Martinez E, Kreuzinger N, Kroiss H., 2005, Removal of
selected pharmaceuticals, fragrances and endocrine disrupting compounds in
membrane bioreactor and conventional wastewater treatment plants, Water Research,
39(19), pp 4797–4807.
7. ENISO9887, 1994, Water quality – evaluation of the aerobic biodegradability of
organic compounds in aqueous mediumsemicontinuous activated sludge method
(SCAS).
8. Fang, H. Y., Chou, M. S., & Huang, C.W., 1993, Nitrification of ammonia–nitrogen
in refinery wastewater, Water Research, 27, pp 1761–1765.
9. Fatta, D., Anayiotou, S. and Papadopoulos, I., 2005, An overview of the Water and
Wastewater Management Practices in Cyprus, In: IWA Specialty Conference,
Wastewater reclamation and reuse for sustainability, Jeju, Korea.
10. Gandurina, L.V., 2002, Organicheskie fl okulyanty v tekhnologii ochistki prirodnykh
i promyshlennykh stochnykh vod i obrabotki osadka: Analiticheskii obzor (Organic
Flocculants in the Technology of Treatment of Natural Water”, Industrial Wastewater,
and Sediment: Analytical Review, Moscow:DAR/VODGEO.
11. González, G., Herrera, G., García, M. T., & Peña, M., 2001ª, Biodegradation of
phenolic industrial wastewater in a fluidized bed reactor with immobilized cells of
Pseudomonas putida, Bioresource Technology, 80, pp 137–142.
12. González, G., Herrera, G., García, M. T., and Peña, M., 2001b, Biodegradation of

phenol in a continuous process: comparative study of stirred tank and fluidisedbed
bioreactors, Bioresource Technology, 76, pp 245–251.
13. Grupta, S. K., and Sharma, R., 1996, Biological oxidation of high strength
nitrogenous wastewater, Water Research, 30, pp 593–600.
14. Hirata, A., Nakamura, Y., and Tsuneda, S., 2001, Biological nitrogen removal from

industrial wastewater discharged from metal recovery processes, Water Science and
Technology, 44(2–3), pp 171–179.
15. Huber MM, Gobel A, Joss A, Hermann N, Loffler D, McArdell CS, Ried A, Siegrist
H, Ternes TA, von Gunten U., 2005, Oxidation of pharmaceuticals during ozonation
of municipal wastewater effluents: a pilot study, Environmental Science and
Technology, 39(11), pp 4290–4299.
16. Joss A, Keller E, Alder AC, Goebel A, McArdell CS, Ternes T, Siegrist H., 2005,
Removal of pharmaceuticals and fragrances in biological wastewater treatment, Water
Research, 39(14), pp 3139–3152.
17. Joss, A., Sebastian Zabczynski, Anke Göbel, Burkhard Hoffmann, Dirk Löffler,
Christa S. McArdell, Thomas A. Ternes, Angela Thomsen and Hansruedi Siegrist,
2006, Biological degradation of pharmaceuticals in municipal wastewater treatment:
Proposing a classification scheme, Water Research, 40(8), pp 1686169.
18. Kimura K, Hara H, Watanabe Y., 2005, Removal of pharmaceutical compounds by
submerged membrane bioreactors (MBR), Desalination, 178(1–3), pp 135–140.
19. La Para TM, Nakatsu CH, Pantea LM, Alleman JE, 2001, Aerobic biological
treatment of a pharmaceutical wastewater: effect of temperature on cod removal and
bacterial community development, Water Research, 35(18), pp 4417–4425.
20. La Para TM. and James E. Alleman, 1999, Thermophilic aerobic biological
wastewater treatment, Water Research, 33(4), pp 895908.
21. Lida Malandra, Gideon Wolfaardt, Ancha Zietsman and Marinda ViljoenBloom,
2003, Microbiology of a biological contactor for winery wastewater treatment, Water
Research, 37(17), pp 41254134.
22. Lübbecke,S., Vogelpohl A. and W. Dewjanin, 1995, Wastewater treatment in a
biological highperformance system with high biomass concentration, Water Research,
29(3),1995, pp 793802.
23. Metcalf L, and Eddy HP, 2003, Wastewater engineering – treatment and reuse, 4th Ed.

Handbook, McGraw Hill, New York.
24. Murphy RJ, Jones DE, Stessel RI., 1995, Relationship of microbial mass and activity
in biodegradation of solid waste, Waste Management Research, 13, pp 485–497.
25. Ros, M. and G.D. Zupancic, 2002, Thermophilic aerobic digestion of waste activated
sludge, Acta Chimica Slovenica, 49, pp 931943.
26. Veitser, Yu. I. and Mints, D.M., 1984, Vysokomolekulyarnye fl okulyanty v
protsessakh ochistki prirodnykh i stochnykh vod, (Macromolecular Flocculants in
Natural Water and Wastewater Treatment), Moscow: Stroiizdat.
27. Zapol, A.K. and Baran, A.A., 1987, Koagulyanty i fl okulyanty v protsessakh ochistki
vody (Coagulants and Flocculants in Wastewater Treatment), Leningrad: Khimiya.

Aerobic Treatment of Pharmaceutical Wastewater in A Biological Reactor

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Aerobic Treatment of Pharmaceutical Wastewater in A Biological Reactor

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Volume 1, No 7, 2011

Research article ISSN 0976 – 4402

Received on April, 2011 Published on June 2011 1797

Effect of aeration on TDS with time is shown in Fig. 3. Result shows that TDS continue to

12. González, G., Herrera, G., García, M. T., and Peña, M., 2001b, Biodegradation of

14. Hirata, A., Nakamura, Y., and Tsuneda, S., 2001, Biological nitrogen removal from

23. Metcalf L, and Eddy HP, 2003, Wastewater engineering – treatment and reuse, 4th Ed.

You might also like