Membrane bioreactor for the treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater containing corticosteroids

Efficient removal of total organic matter, ammonia and four target corticosteroids, levonogestrel (Levo), bethametasone valerate (Betha-V), bethametasone dipropionate (Betha-D) and medroxyprogesterone acetate (Medro), was achieved in a laboratory-scale submerged membrane bioreactor (MBR) treating wastewater from a pharmaceutical industry. MBR was operated for a period of 20 weeks under a constant flux of 2.87 L h− 1 m− 2 without substantial membrane fouling. Total organic matter removal, measured in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD), was on average over 99%. Regarding nutrients, 99% of the initial ammonia and 40% of phosphorous were eliminated. The industrial wastewater was spiked with four target corticosteroids at a final concentration of 100 μg L− 1 in order to assess their elimination. Chemical analysis of MBR effluent revealed that all corticosteroids were removed at percentages higher than 93% in all the cases.

► Lab scale MBR innovatively applied to treat a real pharmaceutical wastewater. ► Stable MBR performance during 21 weeks without membrane cleaning. ► MBR leads to 99% removal of raw organic matter, measured as chemical oxygen demand. ► 99% of the initial ammonia and 40% of phosphorous were eliminated. ► Corticosteroids in microgram level were removed in percentages higher than 93%.