Elimination of an anticancer drug (cyclophosphamide) by a membrane bioreactor: Comprehensive study of mechanisms

• Membrane bioreactor showed a high removal efficiency (60%) of cyclophosphamide.
• Sorption onto sludge could be neglected.
• Biodegradation was the predominant removal mechanism.
• Co-metabolic biodegradation linked to nitrogen elimination was assumed.

The mechanisms of elimination of an anticancer drug (cyclophosphamide) by a membrane bioreactor were investigated. The membrane bioreactor was run for 153 days with a sludge retention time (SRT) of 20 days. A removal efficiency of 60% was observed despite some variations in the influent. This removal was higher than reported in most of the studies in the literature. Biodegradation was the predominant removal mechanism and sorption onto sludge could be neglected.

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