Triclosan, carbamazepine and caffeine removal by activated sludge system focusing on membrane bioreactor

Low ammonia removal efficiencies were observed in both experimental systems, therefore suggesting that nitrification was being inhibited probably due to the presence of triclosan. The ultrafiltration membrane bioreactor process demonstrated to be an efficient and appropriate technology for chemical oxygen demand removal, achieving an average of 97%, for caffeine reaching up to 93.7 ± 9.7 removal efficiencies, and 89.7 ± 8.3% for triclosan. For carbamazepine the removal was lower (36.2 ± 6.8%) due to its recalcitrance. Furthermore, biomass filterability indicators displayed high sludge deterioration increasing substantially the fouling.