Performance of a Full-Scale Vermifilter for Sewage Treatment in Removing Organic Matter, Nutrients, and Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

Victor Gutiérrez, Naomi Monsalves, Gloria Gómez and Gladys Vidal ()
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Victor Gutiérrez: Environmental Engineering & Biotechnology Group (GIBA-UDEC), Environmental Science Faculty, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile
Naomi Monsalves: Environmental Engineering & Biotechnology Group (GIBA-UDEC), Environmental Science Faculty, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile
Gloria Gómez: Environmental Engineering & Biotechnology Group (GIBA-UDEC), Environmental Science Faculty, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile
Gladys Vidal: Environmental Engineering & Biotechnology Group (GIBA-UDEC), Environmental Science Faculty, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 8, 1-18

Abstract: The vermifilter (VF) is regarded as a sustainable solution for treating rural sewage. However, few studies have investigated the performance of a full-scale vermifilter. The objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of a full-scale vermifilter in reducing organic matter, nutrients, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria contained in sewage. Influent and effluents were obtained from a rural sewage treatment plant using a VF and UV disinfection system. The results show a significant removal ( p < 0.05) of chemical organic demand (COD) (77%), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD 5 ) (84%), total nitrogen (TN) (53%), and total phosphorus (36%). Seasonality is an influential variable for COD, BOD 5 , and TN removal. In addition, the molecular weight distribution shows that the VF does not generate a considerable change in the distribution of organic matter (COD and total organic carbon (TOC)) and NH 4 + -N. The UV disinfection system eliminated 99% of coliform bacteria; however, they are not eliminated to safe concentrations. Therefore, it is possible to detect bacteria resistant to the antibiotics ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin, and ceftriaxone at 63.5%, 87.3%, and 63.5%, respectively, which were detected in the effluents. This study shows the potential of a system for the removal of pollution and the need to optimize the VF to be a safe treatment.

Keywords: sewage treatment; full-scale vermifilter; antibiotic-resistant bacteria; molecular weight distribution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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