Journal of Microbial & Biochemical Technology

Future waste water solutions: Removal of pharmaceuticals in conventional waste water treatment plants

International Conference and Expo on Water Microbiology & Novel Technologies

July 18-19, 2016 Chicago, USA

Thomas Jensen

Technical University of Denmark, Denmark

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Microb Biochem Technol

Abstract:

Residues of pharmaceuticals, personal care products and industrial chemicals find their way into the environment mainly through incomplete removal in the conventional urban waste water treatment plants (WWTPs) and appear as micro-pollutants at pg L-1 to μg L-1 concentrations. WWTPs were designed to remove macro-pollutants (BOD, N, P) and therefore remove micropollutants only to some extent. Efficient removal of micro-pollutants appears presently as one of main challenges for the WWTPs in Denmark as well worldwide. Several hospitals in Denmark are currently facing the strict regulation with regards to discharge of pharmaceuticals in waste water effluents. Nonetheless, the challenge of the growing number of ambulant treatments and increasing consumption of pharmaceuticals at home has not been addressed so far. Already now more than 95% of pharmaceutical consumption happens at home. Moreover, the database entries with emission sources reports that WWTPs are the dominant emission pathway of pharmaceuticals into the aquatic environment, while hospitals are listed as the second most frequently listed emission source. In this view, the regulation for the largest hospitals in Denmark may be perceived as a first step towards reduction of micro-pollutants in the aquatic environment, while introduction of a new regulation for the WWTPs will follow as a second step. In cooperation with Danish water utility Fors A/S, Aarhus University, Department of Environmental Science and Technical University of Denmark an innovation project have been setup to test and analyses for micro-pollutants within two WWTP. Fors A/S provides effluent samples from their two biggest WWTPs, while Aarhus University performs the analyses of micro-pollutants in the effluents by means of advanced analytical techniques. The analyses target approximately 26 micro-pollutants, including common antibiotics, pain killers, antidepressants, contrast media and blood pressure pharmaceuticals. We compared the measured concentrations in the effluents with the current emission limits required for the hospitals and assessed the necessity of implementing further actions to improve removal of micro-pollutants at these two WWTPs.

Biography :

Thomas Jensen is engaged in the energy and process optimization in the utilities sector (water supply and waste water) and teaching at Universities, which gained a broad knowledge of project planning, project management, financial management, creating collaborations, supervision etc. In addition, he has experience from the design of electrical and control systems for waste water treatment plants and sewage systems. He has worked in several international environments that have enhanced the understanding of work across language and cultural boundaries.

Email: TMSJ@ramboll.dk