Individual and synergic effect of carbamazepine and diclofenac in the removal of organic matter from an expanded granular bed anaerobic reactor.

Due to the negative effects caused to the natural environment by the presence of pharmaceutical-type traces and other pollutants in wastewater, it is necessary to develop and optimize efficient treatment systems. This study evaluated the effect of carbamazepine (CBZ) and diclofenac (DCF) on the behavior of seven EGSB (expanded granular sludge bed) anaerobic reactors at laboratory scale, using chromatographic and physicochemical analyses of the influent, effluent, and the biomass contained in the reactors. The results showed that CBZ had a greater effect on the removal and behavior of microorganisms than DCF, with average efficiencies of 34.04 ± 18.58%, 20.76 ± 8.51% and 16.29 ± 11.08% during stage II, III and IV, respectively, for CBZ, and 92.37 ± 12.74%, 26.77 ± 5.90% and 22.28 ± 9.60% during stage II, III and IV, respectively, for DCF. Additionally, it was found that the interaction of the co-substrate used (sodium acetate) in conjunction with the pharmaceutical compounds decreased the efficiency of the system in terms of the removal of analytes.