Table 2
Comparison of removal efficiency (mean % and standard deviation) of selected 29 pharmaceuticals in different types of CWs and classical activated
sludge (CAS)
Pharmaceutical
CAS (n)
SF (n)
a
HSSF (n)
a
VF (n)
a
Hybrid (n)
a
Statistical results
a
Acetaminophen
96
Æ 6 (5)
b
99 (1)
70
Æ 24 (12) 97
Æ 1 (2)
83
Æ 25 (11) Non-significant differences in removal efficiency
Atenolol
54
Æ 25 (9)
b
57
Æ 24 (5)
82
Æ 19 (7)
79
Æ 20 (4)
73
Æ 37 (2)
Non-significant differences in removal efficiency
Bezafibrate
64
Æ 32 (13)
b
48
Æ 28 (3)
45
Æ 13 (4)
56
Æ 11 (2)
NA
Non-significant differences in removal efficiency
Caffeine
83
Æ 21 (23)
c
62
Æ 29 (17)
84
Æ 16 (63) 97
Æ 2 (4)
77
Æ 25 (26) The removal efficiency with VF was significantly
higher compared with SF, HSSF and hybrid; the
removal efficiency with SF was significantly lower
compared with HSSF
Carbamazepine
18
Æ 28 (48)
c
31
Æ 22 (23)
30
Æ 24 (38) 40
Æ 20 (11) 27
Æ 20 (18) Non-significant differences in removal efficiency
Clarithromycin
49
Æ 29 (5)
b
41
Æ 21 (6)
45
Æ 20 (10) 49
Æ 57 (2)
46
Æ 9 (2)
Non-significant differences in removal efficiency
Clofibric acid
40
Æ 22 (11)
b
30
Æ 9 (4)
49
Æ 24 (14) NA
NA
The removal efficiency with SF was significantly
lower compared with HSSF
Codeine
68
Æ 26 (5)
b
64
Æ 26 (5)
59
Æ 18 (4)
95
Æ 1 (2)
NA
Non-significant differences in removal efficiency
Diclofenac
35
Æ 32 (28)
c
42
Æ 24 (22)
39
Æ 24 (45) 50
Æ 17 (13) 56
Æ 32 (25) The removal efficiency with hybrid was significantly
higher compared with HSSF
Diltiazem
73
Æ 23 (4)
b
66
Æ 25 (4)
68
Æ 12 (3)
NA
NA
Non-significant differences in removal efficiency
Doxycycline
71
Æ 49 (3)
b
73
Æ 18 (4)
73
Æ 2 (2)
NA
61
Æ 15 (3)
Non-significant differences in removal efficiency
Fexofenadine
18 (1)
d
18
Æ 10 (3)
39
Æ 26 (3)
NA
NA
Non-significant differences in removal efficiency
Gemfibrozil
57
Æ 34 (17)
c
12
Æ 2 (4)
58
Æ 23 (8)
45
Æ 9 (4)
95 (1)
The removal efficiency with SF was significantly
lower compared with HSSF and VF
Ibuprofen
86
Æ 22 (39)
c
57
Æ 28 (27)
53
Æ 27 (61) 79
Æ 24 (10) 62
Æ 29 (32) The removal efficiency with VF was significantly
higher compared with SF, HSSF and hybrid
Ketoprofen
57
Æ 21 (25)
c
48
Æ 30 (22)
47
Æ 35 (27) 50
Æ 3 (6)
45
Æ 28 (17) Non-significant differences in removal efficiency
Metoprolol
18
Æ 16 (13)
c
33
Æ 23 (5)
60
Æ 32 (15) 74
Æ 9 (2)
99 (1)
Non-significant differences in removal efficiency
Mirtazapine
e
55
Æ 23 (3)
8.3
Æ 5.0 (3)
NA
NA
The removal efficiency with SF was significantly
higher compared with HSSF
392
P. N. Carvalho