Sulfamethazine removal in anaerobic reactors treating swine wastewater

Abstract

Pharmaceuticals and other micropollutants have been subjects of recent research due to their occurrence in different environmental compartments worldwide. These compounds have limited degradation in the environment and continuous introduction through various wastewaters. Among these pollutants, antibiotics and chemotherapeutic antimicrobials have gained attention due to their biological activity and the possibility of development of bacterial resistance genes in the environment, which could reduce the long term effectiveness of these compounds. The antimicrobial class of sulfonamides have widespread use in both human and veterinary medicine. Their use in concentrated animal feeding operations has been identified as one of the main spreading routes to the environment. In this context, swine industry receives special attention, since it traditionally uses large amounts of antimicrobials, not only for therapeutical purposes, but also as growth promoters. While current research on antimicrobials biological removal focus on the activated sludge technology, research on the anaerobic technology, commonly used in the treatment of agricultural wastewaters, is still incipient. Thus, this project proposes the study of the feasibility of the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor (UASB) and the horizontal-flow anaerobic fixed bed reactor (RAHLF) in the removal of sulfamethazine in swine wastewater, as a primary barrier in the dispersion of this micropollutant, contributing to the reduction of the environmental impacts associated with the swine industry. (AU)