Published:Journal of Chromatographic Science,
ISSN 0021-9665 Volume
47, Number 1, January 2009, pp. 19-25
Trace Analysis of Polar Pharmaceuticals in Wastewater
by LC–MS–MS: Comparison of Membrane Bioreactor and
Activated Sludge Systems
Mary Dawn Celiz1, Sandra Pérez2,
Damià Barceló2,3,
and Diana S. Aga1, 1Department of Chemistry, The State University of New York at
Buffalo, 608 Natural Sciences Complex, Buffalo, NY 14260-3000;
2Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona
18-26, Barcelona 08034, Spain; 3Catalan Institute for Water Research
(ICRA), Parc Científic i Tecnològic de la Universitat
de Girona,Edifici Jaume Casademont, Porta A, Planta 1 - Despatx
13C/ Pic de Peguera, 15E-17003 Girona, Spain
In order to assess the efficiency of wastewater
treatment plants in removing pharmaceuticals from wastewater,
sensitive and reliable methods are necessary for trace analysis
of these micropollutants in the presence of a highly complex
matrix. In this study, conventional activated sludge (CAS) and
membrane bioreactor (MBR) treatment systems are compared in eliminating
pharmaceuticals in wastewater. The pharmaceuticals investigated
include aceclofenac, carbamazepine, diclofenac, enalapril, and
trimethoprim. Analysis is performed using a liquid chromatograph
with hybrid linear ion-trap mass spectrometer equipped with a
polar reversed-phase column to achieve good separation and minimize
matrix effects. To pre-concentrate the samples, the use of two
types of solid-phase extraction packing materials in tandem assures
good recoveries of all the target analytes. In the influent,
the concentration of these compounds ranges from 0.09 to 1.4 µg/L.
Diclofenac shows resistance to degradation in the CAS but is
amenable to degradation in the MBR. Trimethoprim and enalapril
are only slightly eliminated in the CAS but are reduced by more
than 95% in the MBR. Carbamazepine removal is negligible, while
aceclofenac is only 50% reduced in CAS and MBR. In general, these
results indicate that MBR has a higher efficiency in removing
some polar pharmaceuticals in wastewater.
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