Biodegradation of Pharmaceuticals Substances by a Fixed-Bed Bioreactor

Abstract: The biodegradation of four pharmaceuticals (naproxen, fenoprofen, ibuprofen and gemfibrozil) was studied by batch experiments. Fixed-bed bioreactor (FBBR) and activated sludge was used under aerobic conditions. In order to elucidate the capability of biomass developed in bioreactor, the kinetic reaction was determined with heterotrophic biomass in the FBBR following the liquid phase concentrations over time. After the biomass acclimation period the removal efficiency for the pharmaceuticals was 100% with respect to the limit of quantification (LOD). The biodegradation of the studied pharmaceuticals followed a first-order kinetics for naproxen and ibuprofen, and for fenoprofren and gemfibrozil a zero order kinetics was determined.