Removal of Two Pharmaceutically Active Compounds from Aqueous Phase Using an Engineered Floodplain Filtration System

This study investigated the removal of two model pharmaceutically active compounds (PhAcs), viz., ibuprofen and triclosan, in lab‐scale engineered floodplain filtration (EFF) system. Biodegradation experiments were performed to acquire knowledge about the degradation of the targeted PhAcs, at an initial concentration of 350 µg/L. Biodegradation results showed that the two compounds were bio‐transformed to >70% after 15 days of incubation. Column tests were performed in a statistically significant manner to determine the adsorptive potential of the suggested filler layer in the EFF (C/C₀), by varying the flow rate and initial concentration of the compound. It was observed based on the F and p‐values that the main effects (F = 3163, p < 0.005) were more significant than the interactive effects (F = 9561, p < 0.05) for both ibuprofen and triclosan removal. Besides, by performing the Student's “t” test, it was concluded that the flow rate plays a major role in determining the rapidness of achieving complete breakthrough than the initial concentration of both the compounds. The data obtained from column studies under biotic conditions indicated that the removal mechanism for PhAcs is mainly biotransformation based, and that an EFF system may be effectively used to remove these emerging compounds during ground water recharge for water recycling.     

The partitioning of Triclosan between aqueous and particulate bound phases in the Hudson River Estuary

The distribution of Triclosan within the Hudson River Estuary can be explained by a balance among the overall effluent inputs from municipal sewage treatment facilities, dilution of Triclosan concentrations in the water column with freshwater and seawater inputs, removal of Triclosan from the water column by adsorption to particles, and loss to photodegradation. This study shows that an average water column concentration of 3 ± 2 ng/l (in the lower Hudson River Estuary) is consistent with an estimate for dilution of average wastewater concentrations with seawater and calculated rates of adsorption of Triclosan to particles. An average Triclosan sediment concentration of 26 ± 11 ng/g would be in equilibrium with the overlying water column if Triclosan has a particle-to-water partitioning coefficient of k_d  10⁴, consistent with laboratory estimates.