Biomass-derived carbons in the context of LIFE Impetus project for removing pharmaceutical compounds from urban wastewaters

Abstract

"Pharmaceutical compounds (PhCs) are emerging contaminants of environmental-health concern that, if not controlled, could adversely affect drinking water sources and water reuse projects, two key issues of sustainable water management. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are crucial barriers against PhCs, but many of these compounds are resistant to conventional treatments, thus cost-effective and resource efficient solutions based on existing infrastructure are essential. The LIFE Impetus project aims at demonstrating feasible measures for improving the control of PhCs in urban WWTPs with conventional activated sludge (CAS) treatment, namely strategies based on chemically enhanced barriers with adsorbent and/or coagulant addition. For the adsorbents, biomass-derived powdered activated carbons (PACs) are being developed and benchmarked against commercial PACs. The first selection of biomass took into account the availability of national industrial wastes and so cork and carob processing wastes were chemically and steam activated. Selected materials were used in laboratory tests assessing the adsorption of a short-list of representative PhCs, first in a synthetic inorganic matrix and then in a real competitive scenario using secondary effluents from Beirolas (BEI) and Faro Noroeste (FNW), the two project case studies both WWTPs with conventional activated sludge treatment."