Acute and chronic responses of denitrifying culture to diclofenac

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 176; pp. 112 - 120
• Main Authors: Ozdemir, Gamze, Aydin, Egemen, Topuz, Emel, Yangin-Gomec, Cigdem, Okutman Tas, Didem
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2015
• Subjects: Anoxic condition; Bacteria, Anaerobic - drug effects; Bacteria, Anaerobic - metabolism; Chromatography, Ion Exchange; Culture; Denitrification; Denitrification - drug effects; Diclofenac; Diclofenac - analysis; Diclofenac - isolation & purification; Diclofenac - toxicity; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Emission; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Micropollutant; Nitrates; Nitrates - metabolism; Nitrites - metabolism; Nitrous oxides; Oxygen - metabolism; Pharmaceuticals; Pollutants; Reactors; Sewage - chemistry; Sewage - microbiology; Sludge; Time Factors; Toxicity; Turkey; Waste Water - chemistry; Wastewater treatment; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - isolation & purification; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; Water Purification - methods; Turkey; Anoxic condition; Denitrification; Micropollutant; Toxicity; Pharmaceuticals
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.10.055

[Display omitted] •Continuous diclofenac amendment resulted in a decrease in the gas production.•Diclofenac removal in diclofenac-acclimated culture was less than 15%.•N2O reduction was negatively affected in the presence of diclofenac at low SRT.•Diclofenac resulted in a decrease in nitrate removal rate especially at low SRT. Acute and chronic effect as well as biodegradation potential at different sludge retention times (SRTs) of a priority pollutant, diclofenac on denitrification process was assessed. The continuous amendment of the culture for 6months with 1μg/L diclofenac resulted in 30% decrease in gas production. The average diclofenac removal observed in the diclofenac-acclimated culture was less than 15%. Batch tests showed that nitrate was removed in diclofenac free-control reactor at a higher rate compared to diclofenac amended reactor. Although, SRT did not have any progressive effect on diclofenac degradation, the system operated at low SRT was more sensitive to diclofenac and resulted in an increase in N2O emission. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) operated at higher SRTs may tolerate and recover from the adverse effects of such micropollutants. The study can lead to other researchers to understand the fate and effect of other emerging pollutants in the anoxic unit of WWTPs.