Integration of Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket and Constructed Wetlands for Pharmaceutical Wastewater Treatment
Hanny Vistanty, Farida Crisnaningtyas

Balai Besar Teknologi Pencegahan Pencemaran Industri

Abstract

Pharmaceutical wastewater is one important issue for environmental and human safety, due to their resistant characteristic and toxicity. Studies reported that pharmaceutical residue and several drug metabolites have been detected in the aquatic environment and pose high risk on human and the ecosystem. Many technologies, ranging from conventional methods, such as activated sludge, anaerobic digestion, and aerobic membrane bioreactors (MBR), to advanced treatment, such as advanced oxidation process (AOP), or integration of more than one method was applied for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment. Integration of Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) and constructed wetlands was applied for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment discharged by one of pharmaceutical industry in Semarang. The performance of UASB and constructed wetlands were evaluated. Up to 73% and 94% of COD removal efficiency was achieved in UASB and constructed wetlands, respectively. An average 95% of pollutant removal was achieved by the system, indicating the stability and ability of integration in pharmaceutical wastewater treatment.

Keywords: pharmaceutical, wastewater, UASB, constructed wetlands

Topic: Environmental Science, Technology, and Education