Removal of antibiotics from surface and distilled water in conventional water treatment processes

Journal of Environmental Engineering
By: , and 

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Abstract

Conventional drinking water treatment processes were evaluated under typical water treatment plant conditions to determine their effectiveness in the removal of seven common antibiotics: carbadox, sulfachlorpyridazine, sulfadimethoxine, sulfamerazine, sulfamethazine, sulfathiazole, and trimethoprim. Experiments were conducted using synthetic solutions prepared by spiking both distilled/ deionized water and Missouri River water with the studied compounds. Sorption on Calgon WPH powdered activated carbon, reverse osmosis, and oxidation with chlorine and ozone under typical plant conditions were all shown to be effective in removing the studied antibiotics. Conversely, coagulation/flocculation/sedimentation with alum and iron salts, excess lime/soda ash softening, ultraviolet irradiation at disinfection dosages, and ion exchange were all relatively ineffective methods of antibiotic removal. This study shows that the studied antibiotics could be effectively removed using processes already in use many water treatment plants. Additional work is needed on by-product formation and the removal of other classes of antibiotics.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Removal of antibiotics from surface and distilled water in conventional water treatment processes
Series title Journal of Environmental Engineering
DOI 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(2002)128:3(253)
Volume 128
Issue 3
Year Published 2002
Language English
Publisher ASCE
Contributing office(s) Toxic Substances Hydrology Program
Description 8 p.
First page 253
Last page 260
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