Treatment Train Design for Removal of Pharmaceutical Compounds from Hospital Effluent Before Discharge

Abstract

The discharge of untreated hospital effluents containing pharmaceutical compounds poses significant environmental and public health risks due to the persistence and bioactive nature of emerging contaminants in aquatic ecosystems. This study presents the design of an integrated treatment train for the effective removal of pharmaceutical compounds from hospital wastewater before environmental discharge. The proposed treatment system combines physical, chemical, and biological treatment processes to enhance contaminant degradation efficiency and improve overall effluent quality under varying operational conditions. A comprehensive evaluation was conducted to analyze the performance of preliminary screening, coagulation-flocculation, biological degradation, membrane filtration, and advanced oxidation processes in removing pharmaceutical residues, organic pollutants, suspended solids, and pathogenic microorganisms. Key operational parameters, including hydraulic retention time, oxidant dosage, membrane characteristics, and microbial activity, were optimized to maximize treatment efficiency and system reliability. Experimental and simulation analyses demonstrated substantial reductions in pharmaceutical compound concentration, chemical oxygen demand, biochemical oxygen demand, and toxicity indicators, indicating effective remediation of complex hospital wastewater streams. The integrated treatment train also exhibited improved resistance to fluctuations in influent composition and enhanced operational stability compared to standalone treatment methods. Furthermore, the incorporation of advanced oxidation and membrane-based polishing units significantly improved the removal of persistent pharmaceutical contaminants and micropollutants.