Evaluation of sulfamethazine removal using an anaerobic upflow fixed bed reactor

Abstract

Active pharmaceutical compounds are emerging contaminants that have been highlighted by the scientific community over the last 10 years, due to continuous occurrence in the environment. One of the major sources is the water and wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). Most of WWTP are not designed to remove these compounds, such as antibiotics, a recalcitrant compounds. Then, this research aim to evaluate the removal of sulfamethazine (SMZ) using an anaerobic up flow fixed bed reactor. This is first study using this reactor configuration for removal of antibiotics. The reactor is fed with a lab made wastewater, simulating the sanitary sewage, and polyurethane foam is used as support material for microorganisms adherence. Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) will be applied to analyze sulfamethazine in the reactor effluent. The experimental procedure will be performed in two stages, characterized by the application of different hydraulic retention times, 24 hand 12 h. (AU)