Many novel treatment technologies, usually representing a pre-treatment prior to the biological degradation process, have been developed in order to improve the recycling and reuse of sewage sludge. Among all the methods available, a chemical (alkaline) and a thermal treatment have been considered in this study. The behaviour of 13 substances belonging to different therapeutic classes (musks, tranquillisers, antiepileptic, anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, X-ray contrast media and estrogens) has been studied during the anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge combined with these pre-treatments (advanced operation) in comparison with the conventional process. Two parameters have been analysed: the temperature (mesophilic and thermophilic conditions) and the sludge retention time. While organic matter solubilization was higher with the alkaline process (55–80%), no difference between both pre-treatments was observed concerning volatile solids solubilization (up to 20%). The removal efficiencies of solids and organic matter during anaerobic digestion ranged from 40–70% and 45–75%, respectively. The higher removal efficiencies of pharmaceuticals and personal care products were achieved for the antibiotics, Naproxen and the natural estrogens (>80%). For the other compounds, the values were in the range 20–70%, except for Carbamazepine, which was not removed at any condition tested.
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April 01 2006
Comparison between the conventional anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge and its combination with a chemical or thermal pre-treatment concerning the removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products
M. Carballa
;
*
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Santiago de Compostela, Rúa Lope Gómez de Marzoa, s/n. 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
E-mail: mcarbala@usc.es
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F. Omil
;
F. Omil
*
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Santiago de Compostela, Rúa Lope Gómez de Marzoa, s/n. 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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A.C. Alder
;
A.C. Alder
**
Swiss Federal Institute for Environmental Science and Technology, Ueberlandstrasse 133, CH-8600 Duebendorf, Switzerland
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J.M. Lema
J.M. Lema
*
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Santiago de Compostela, Rúa Lope Gómez de Marzoa, s/n. 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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Water Sci Technol (2006) 53 (8): 109-117.
Citation
M. Carballa, F. Omil, A.C. Alder, J.M. Lema; Comparison between the conventional anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge and its combination with a chemical or thermal pre-treatment concerning the removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Water Sci Technol 1 April 2006; 53 (8): 109–117. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2006.241
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M. Carballa, F. Omil, A.C. Alder, J.M. Lema; Comparison between the conventional anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge and its combination with a chemical or thermal pre-treatment concerning the removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Water Sci Technol 1 April 2006; 53 (8): 109–117. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2006.241
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