Investigation into the Removal of the By-product NDMA (N-Nitrosodimethylamine) from Ozonation Process in Wastewater Treatment
(2021) VVAM01 20201Chemical Engineering (M.Sc.Eng.)
- Abstract
- In people’s modern life, daily usage of artificial compounds such as active pharmaceuticals ingredients (API) is usual. These compounds are likely to end up as micropollutants in the municipal wastewater. Municipal wastewater is the major source of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment. These chemicals can affect the health and behavior of wildlife and the local ecological system. Thus, it is necessary to remove these compounds through WWTPs. The main mechanics of micropollutants removal during treatment processes are sorption and biological degradation.
The toxicity may increase after ozonation due to the formation of ozonation transformation products (OTPs) and oxidation by-products (OBPs). To eliminate possible negative... (More) - In people’s modern life, daily usage of artificial compounds such as active pharmaceuticals ingredients (API) is usual. These compounds are likely to end up as micropollutants in the municipal wastewater. Municipal wastewater is the major source of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment. These chemicals can affect the health and behavior of wildlife and the local ecological system. Thus, it is necessary to remove these compounds through WWTPs. The main mechanics of micropollutants removal during treatment processes are sorption and biological degradation.
The toxicity may increase after ozonation due to the formation of ozonation transformation products (OTPs) and oxidation by-products (OBPs). To eliminate possible negative ecotoxicological effects caused by biodegradable OTPs and OBPs generated during ozonation, an additional biological post-treatment is needed, such as sand filter, moving bed reactor and fixed bed reactor.
This study aims to investigate the degradation of the ozonation by-product, NDMA, by different biomasses (suspended and attached growth) at different redox conditions (oxic and anaerobic). Together with NDMA, three other pharmaceuticals that are commonly detected in wastewater have been also investigated in order to make a comparison with NDMA. The work on the degradation of NDMA and three pharmaceuticals with suspended and attached growth under different redox conditions resulted in several interesting observations:
① NDMA could be completely degraded under oxic redox condition by the suspended biofilm carriers.
② Higher degradation rates of NDMA and the three pharmaceuticals were observed under oxic than anoxic conditions.
③ NDMA has shown similar characteristics of degradation as diclofenac, such as in what situation it is degradable, but NDMA has been considered to be degraded at a larger percentage than diclofenac.
④ Some pharmaceuticals turned out to be easier to be degraded by suspended biofilm carriers than by activated sludge under both redox conditions.
⑤ Ibuprofen and naproxen could be fully degraded under oxic condition by both activated sludge and suspended biofilm carriers. (Less) - Popular Abstract
- N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is a member of extremely potent carcinogens (compounds that can induce cancer) which has been detected in environmental water body, and thus can further affect people’s health. However, it has recently been proved that NDMA can be degraded during wastewater treatment processes.
Carcinogens have widely drawn people’s attention by appearing in food, polluted air and even in drinking water. NDMA is one of them, and it can be formed during drinking water and wastewater treatment processes.
The experiments aim to investigate the degradation of NDMA in wastewater. In order to assess the degradation level, three other common pharmaceuticals, which are diclofenac, ibuprofen and naproxen, were also tested. For... (More) - N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is a member of extremely potent carcinogens (compounds that can induce cancer) which has been detected in environmental water body, and thus can further affect people’s health. However, it has recently been proved that NDMA can be degraded during wastewater treatment processes.
Carcinogens have widely drawn people’s attention by appearing in food, polluted air and even in drinking water. NDMA is one of them, and it can be formed during drinking water and wastewater treatment processes.
The experiments aim to investigate the degradation of NDMA in wastewater. In order to assess the degradation level, three other common pharmaceuticals, which are diclofenac, ibuprofen and naproxen, were also tested. For each compound, 4 sets of experiment were conducted in different conditions. Each compound respectively reacted with two kinds of biomasses under the conditions with enough oxygen or with less oxygen. The results have shown that NDMA can be completely degraded under aerobic conditions, that is with sufficient amounts of oxygen.
The results of these experiments have shown a possible way to remove NDMA in wastewater in order to protect our aquatic environment as well as ourselves. With the proper type of biomass, preferably from a biofilm process, and optimum operational conditions in terms of oxygen levels, NDMA can be degraded.
However, in lab, a satisfying degradation of NDMA could need a pretty long time, which is not realistic to be applied in real wastewater treatment plants. Therefore, one future challenge could be looking for a method to raise the degradation rate of NDMA in order to apply this technique in wastewater treatment plants in reality. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9037506
- author
- Li, Zehao LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- VVAM01 20201
- year
- 2021
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Water resources engineering, Ozonation, NDMA, Wastewater, pharmaceutical, Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Naproxen
- language
- English
- id
- 9037506
- date added to LUP
- 2021-03-16 11:33:11
- date last changed
- 2021-03-16 11:33:11
@misc{9037506,
abstract = {{In people’s modern life, daily usage of artificial compounds such as active pharmaceuticals ingredients (API) is usual. These compounds are likely to end up as micropollutants in the municipal wastewater. Municipal wastewater is the major source of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment. These chemicals can affect the health and behavior of wildlife and the local ecological system. Thus, it is necessary to remove these compounds through WWTPs. The main mechanics of micropollutants removal during treatment processes are sorption and biological degradation.
The toxicity may increase after ozonation due to the formation of ozonation transformation products (OTPs) and oxidation by-products (OBPs). To eliminate possible negative ecotoxicological effects caused by biodegradable OTPs and OBPs generated during ozonation, an additional biological post-treatment is needed, such as sand filter, moving bed reactor and fixed bed reactor.
This study aims to investigate the degradation of the ozonation by-product, NDMA, by different biomasses (suspended and attached growth) at different redox conditions (oxic and anaerobic). Together with NDMA, three other pharmaceuticals that are commonly detected in wastewater have been also investigated in order to make a comparison with NDMA. The work on the degradation of NDMA and three pharmaceuticals with suspended and attached growth under different redox conditions resulted in several interesting observations:
① NDMA could be completely degraded under oxic redox condition by the suspended biofilm carriers.
② Higher degradation rates of NDMA and the three pharmaceuticals were observed under oxic than anoxic conditions.
③ NDMA has shown similar characteristics of degradation as diclofenac, such as in what situation it is degradable, but NDMA has been considered to be degraded at a larger percentage than diclofenac.
④ Some pharmaceuticals turned out to be easier to be degraded by suspended biofilm carriers than by activated sludge under both redox conditions.
⑤ Ibuprofen and naproxen could be fully degraded under oxic condition by both activated sludge and suspended biofilm carriers.}},
author = {{Li, Zehao}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Investigation into the Removal of the By-product NDMA (N-Nitrosodimethylamine) from Ozonation Process in Wastewater Treatment}},
year = {{2021}},
}