Hybrid Aquatic System for Treatment of Domestic Wastewater Containing Pharmaceutical Residuals

Abstract

This experimental research aimed to study the efficiencies of wastewater treatment and reducing pharmaceutical residuals by a hybrid aquatic system. Four laboratory-scale reactors, each filled duckweeds of 0.63 kg/m², were operated at the organic loading rate (OLR) of 12-50 kg COD/(ha-day) and illuminated with red LED at the light intensity of 150 µmol/(m²-sec). Three reactors, each filled with plastic media at the specific area of 50 m²/m³, were fed with domestic wastewater at the hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of 5, 10 and 20 days; the fourth reactor was operated at the HRT of 10 days, but without plastic media. The experimental results showed the COD removal efficiency of 36.11, 40.74 and 76.85% at HRTs of 5, 10 and 20 days, respectively; while the reactor without plastic media had less COD removal efficiency. The hybrid aquatic system was also effective in removing sulfamethoxazole, a common anti-biotic drug, from the influent wastewater about 99%.