The separate, advanced treatment of hospital wastewater might be a promising approach to prevent the dissemination of residual compounds of high environmental concern, like pharmaceuticals, viruses and pathogenic microorganisms. This study investigates the performance of a full-scale, on-site treatment plant, consisting of a membrane bioreactor and a subsequent ozonation, at a German hospital. We analysed the elimination of pharmaceutical residues, microbiological parameters and SARS-CoV-2 RNA fragments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA pilot-scale biotrickling filter (BTF) was operated in counter-current flow mode under anoxic conditions, using diluted agricultural digestate as inoculum and as the recirculation medium for the nutrient source. The process was tested on-site at an agricultural fermentation plant, where real biogas was used. The pilot plant was therefore exposed to real process-related fluctuations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicropollutants (MPs), especially endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), are mainly released from WWTPs into surface water bodies and can subsequently lead to adverse effects in biota. Treatment with ozone proved to be a suitable method for eliminating such MPs. This method was implemented at the WWTP Aachen-Soers by commissioning the largest full-scale ozonation plant in Europe at the moment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSemi-arid regions often face severe drought events that reduce agricultural and livestock production. In recent years, some international studies have used multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) approaches combined with geographic information systems (GIS-MCDA) to support decision-makers in assessing the suitability of agricultural land for irrigation in semi-arid regions. Unlike previous studies, which have only considered a single source of water for crop irrigation, this study proposes a GIS-MCDA approach that considers all potentially available local water sources (e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHealth care facilities can represent point sources for pharmaceutical residues in public sewer systems. Compared to general hospitals, more specialized health care facilities might also have a different pattern of medication. Therefore, the on-site treatment of wastewater from such facilities could be an effective strategy to reduce emissions into water bodies and was the aim of this study.
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