Evaluation of the Efficiency of Activated Sludge Process in Cefazolin and Doxorubicin Antibiotics Removal from Hospital Wastewater

Antibiotics and anticancer drugs have particular importance because of their environmental pollutants. The efficacy of the activated sludge process in the removal of Cefazolin and Doxorubicin from hospital wastewater in Sari city (Mazandaran Province) was investigated. The hospital effluent was investigated in different months from different parts of the effluent treatment system and their residual amount was determined by HPLC. The residual amounts of Cefazolin and Doxorubicin in the effluent were 1.96 μg. L-1 and 0.95 mg. L-1, respectively. Results showed 36.24% Doxorubicin and 51.6% Cefazolin removal through the activated sludge process. After chlorination, a 45.64% Doxorubicin and 66.42% Cefazolin removal was achieved. It was found that the effect of initial treatment or settling is low in reducing the amount of studied drugs, but the efficacy of different stages of biological treatment varies with the type of contaminant. The effect of the activated sludge process on the polar antibiotic Cefazoline is higher than the anticancer drug Doxorubicin. The unknown risk assessment of these drugs in the environment and the inability of wastewater treatment plants to remove them requires the use of more advanced methods.