Removal of emerging contaminants from wastewater using nanofiltration for its subsequent reuse: Full–scale pilot plant

Abstract

Effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are widely recognized as the main source of emerging contaminants (including stimulants and antibiotics) in natural water courses. The problem is aggravated in those regions where water is scarce and its reuse is necessary. With the aim of avoiding these problems, the present paper reports the results obtained by installing a nanofiltration membrane at the outlet of the secondary decanter at the WWTP situated in the municipality of Medina Sidonia (SW Spain). Permeate samples were taken over a period of 72 h while the membranes were operating. Contaminants belonging to the aforementioned families (caffeine, theobromine, theophylline, amoxicillin and penicillin G) were analysed by means of liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). The results indicate that nanofiltration removed these contaminants from the wastewater turning the treated water as suitable to be reused for all the uses included in the Spanish Royal Decree 1620/2007 on water regeneration and reuse.