Full scale membrane bioreactor treatment of hospital wastewater as forerunner for hot-spot wastewater treatment solutions in high density urban areas

• Published in: Water science and technology Vol. 63; no. 1; pp. 66 - 71
• Main Authors: Beier, S, Cramer, C, Köster, S, Mauer, C, Palmowski, L, Schröder, H Fr, Pinnekamp, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England IWA Publishing 01-01-2011
• Subjects: Antibiotics; Bioreactors; Ecotoxicology; Environmental impact; Hospital wastes; Hospitals; Industrial Waste; Medical wastes; Membranes, Artificial; Segregation; Solutions; Urban areas; Urbanization; Wastewater; Wastewater treatment; Water Pollutants, Chemical - isolation & purification; Water reuse; Waterways
• ISSN: 0273-1223; 1996-9732
• DOI: 10.2166/wst.2011.010

Membrane Bioreactors (MBR) are a very attractive option for the treatment of hospital wastewater and elimination of pharmaceuticals in high density urban areas. The present investigation showed that, depending on the substance, between 19% and 94% of the level of antibiotics found in the environment originate from hospitals. Because of their ecotoxic potential, hospital wastewaters can have a significant impact on the environment. The segregation of these wastewaters and their separate treatment at the source can reduce the entry of drugs in waterways and enable water reuse after adequate polishing treatment processes.