Simple Technoeconomic Approach to Chlortetracycline Removal from Wastewater Treatment Plant

Abstract

This study evaluates the technoeconomic feasibility of using hybrid advanced oxidation technologies (AOTs) for the removal of chlortetracycline (CTC) in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Experimental results on wastewater (WW) and wastewater sludge (WWS) matrices were taken into consideration for the technoeconomic evaluation comprising five different AOT methods. Degradation efficiency of CTC removal varied according to the matrix (WW or WWS) and on the application of individual or hybrid AOPs. A balance between the technical aspect (treatment efficiency parameter) and economic constraints has been equally maintained while evaluating the removal of CTC using AOPs under both the matrix. Among AOTs, namely ultrasonication (UIS), Fenton oxidation (FO), and ferro-sonication (FS) used to treat CTC in WWS, FS was considered as the most feasible technoeconomic solution while ultrasonic assisted laccase (UAL) showed a better technoeconomical option when compared to the sulfate radical based degradation processes (persulfate/Fe2+/Fe0) to remove CTC in WW.