Elimination of Pharmaceutical Active Compounds and their Metabolites from Different Waters by Means of Adsorbents and Ultrafiltration with Special Focus on Adsorbent Recycling
(Willy-Hager II)

The presence of pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs) in waste-, surface- and groundwater has gained interest in the last years. Nowadays PhACs are more frequently detected in the aquatic environment as a result of high water solubility, incomplete biodegradability and the increased production of pharmaceutical products. Traces of PhACs were found even in drinking water. The combination adsorption / ultrafiltration permits: firstly an almost complete elimination of PhACs by the adsorbent and secondly adsorbent separation as well as secure rejection of bacteria and viruses by membrane filtration. Within the project: "Elimination of pharmaceutical active compounds and their metabolites from different waters by means of adsorbents and ultrafiltration with special focus on adsorbent recycling", funded by the Willy-Hager Stiftung, Stuttgart, different aspects of the adsorption / ultrafiltration process are investigated. Research activities include:

• adsorption efficiency using different PhACs and different adsorbents (adsorption kinetic, selectivity of the adsorption, etc.), 
• influence of natural organic matter (NOM) on the adsorption of PhACs,
• alternative adsorbents in combination with ultrafiltration membranes,
• long-run-behavior of the adsorbents and the membrane (pore-blocking by the adsorbent, fouling, membrane surface deterioration, etc.),
• biodegradation of PhACs, regeneration of the adsorbents.