Occurrence and transformation of illicit drugs in wastewater treatment plants
- Authors: Cosenza, A.; Viviani, G.; Fanara, S.; Indelicato, S.; Piscionieri, D.; Di Gaudio, F.; Maida, C.M.
- Publication year: 2016
- Type: Contributo in atti di convegno pubblicato in volume
- OA Link: http://hdl.handle.net/10447/239682
Abstract
In this study the occurrence and behaviour of illicit drugs and their metabolites has been investigated for two Sicilian WWTPs (namely, WWTP-1 and WWTP-2). Samples were analyzed for methamphetamine, cocaine (COC), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), methadone (METH), 2-ethylidene1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine (EDDP), 3,4-methylenedioxy amphetamine (MDA); 3,4-methylenedioxy ethylamphetamine (MDEA), 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH) and Benzoylecgonine (BEG). Results have shown that for both the monitored WWTPs BEG ,COC, MOR and THC-COOH were found at the highest concentration. This compounds are directly related to the use of cocaine and cannabis of the population. In terms of removal efficiency results showed that inside the WWTP1 very poor efficiency occurred and sometimes negative efficiencies took placed. For the WWTP2 average removal efficiency of 86 %, 94%, 90 % and 65 % were found for BEG ,COC, MOR and THC-COOH, respectively.