Removal of bioactive contaminants from wastewater by hydrothermal liquefaction processes

Mai Pham, Lance Schideman, Brajendra Kumar Sharma, Yuanhui Zhang

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The current study investigated the effects of hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) operated under a range of operating conditions on the fate of bioactive contaminants (BACs) often present in wastewater sources. HPLC analysis of BACs before and after HTL treatment showed essentially complete removal of BACs in presence of biomass feedstocks when HTL was operated at 300°C and ≥30 min. Tracking 14C for two BACs showed that 60–79% of the carbon was transferred to the HTL raw oil product, and most of the rest was found in the aqueous product. High-efficiency transformation experiments showed complete deactivation of antibiotic resistant materials for all tested HTL conditions. Due to the high temperature and pressure of HTL process, BACs are broken down into a variety of organic compounds that are present in the aqueous HTL product. Experiment data showed that 51% and 96% of these compounds can be removed by algal bioreactor and catalytic hydrothermal gasification treatments, respectively. Thus, HTL can effectively destruct a wide variety of BACs and help to reduce or eliminate any negative impacts of these compounds on human health and natural ecosystems.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication87th Annual Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference, WEFTEC 2014
PublisherWater Environment Federation
Pages4729-4750
Number of pages22
ISBN (Electronic)9781510870451
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2014
Event87th Annual Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference, WEFTEC 2014 - New Orleans, United States
Duration: Sep 27 2014Oct 1 2014

Publication series

Name87th Annual Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference, WEFTEC 2014
Volume3

Conference

Conference87th Annual Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference, WEFTEC 2014
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityNew Orleans
Period9/27/1410/1/14

Keywords

  • Algae
  • Antibiotic resistance
  • Bio-wastes
  • Bioactive contaminants (BACs)
  • Biofuel
  • Estrogenic compounds
  • Hydrothermal liquefaction
  • Spirulina
  • Waste-to-energy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecological Modeling
  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Pollution
  • Waste Management and Disposal
  • Water Science and Technology

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