Pharmaceuticals are known to cause detrimental environmental effects including the increase of antibiotic resistant bacteria and development issues in animals, but research is still limited. This study aims to observe the effect current wastewater treatment methods have on three pharmaceuticals (SMZ, azithromycin, and salicylic acid) by analyzing their concentrations after seven treatment stages. Utilizing SPE and LC-MS, we determined the effluent concentrations of SMZ and azithromycin were 81 ppb and 209 ppb, respectively, with similar concentrations appearing in surface water. This study did not observe a reduction in pharmaceutical concentration with current wastewater treatment methods but noted their potential.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Caton, Olivia G.
• Como, Marina

Subject

• Water
• Industry
• Sustainability
• Health
• Project-Based Learning
• Environment
• Well-Being

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-032521-160545
• 16061

Keyword

• pollution
• treatment
• contaminant
• pharmaceutical
• LC-MS
• wastewater

Advisor

• Kmiotek, Stephen J.
• Madan, Ryan Smith

Year

• 2021

Center

• Nancy, France Project Center - MQP

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation

Date created

• 2021-03-25

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Environmental Engineering
• Chemical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2022-05-16