Abstract

RUBIANO, J.C.; PERDOMO, M.P.  and  PRAMPARO, L.. Respirometric study of Diclofenac biodegradation. Entre Ciencia e Ingenieria [online]. 2017, vol.11, n.21, pp.9-13. ISSN 1909-8367.

Pseudo-persistent contaminants in wastewater, as pharmaceutical compounds, create a need to study different methods capable to degrade these contaminants in order to reduce its concentration in water sources and treatment plants, since they could generate some problems therein. The biological treatment is often the main treatment in these WWTP. In this study, the analysis of the biological degradation of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, as diclofenac, was carried out using respirometric techniques.Different batch experiments were carried out in a respirometer LFS (liquid-flowstatic) type, with activated sludge from a local WWTP to determine the aerobic biodegradation of diclofenac. The initial concentration of diclofenac was in the range 5-100 mg/L. The degradation was analyzed by COD and OD measurements. The profile of OD consumption was obtained for all samples. Removals of 50% were obtained after 285 min of reaction. However, the aerobic degradation increased until 80% of pollutant removal after 24 hours of analysis. It was observed that the activated sludge was able to consume the pollutant, however the reaction times were very long considering the requirements of the WWTP.

Keywords : biological degradation; diclofenac; pharmaceutical compounds; respirometry; wastewater.

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