Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2002GA11B

Investigation of Chlorination and Ozonation of Antibiotics Detected in Georgia Waters

Institute: Georgia
Year Established: 2002 Start Date: 2002-03-01 End Date: 2003-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $14,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $32,605

Principal Investigators: Ching-Hua Huang, Ching-Hua Huang

Project Summary: Recently increasing number of studies has shown that the high usage rates of antibiotics have resulted in contamination of many water sources by these compounds. Among those studies, antibiotics have been detected in treated wastewater and surface waters around metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. Albeit at low concentrations, the presence of antibiotics in water sources is a concern because of the potential to increase proliferation of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, and to pose threats to human health. Based upon the high polarity, low biodegradability and multiple reactive functional groups of antibiotics, chemical oxidation is one of the most likely water/wastewater treatment processes to transform and remove these pollutants. A research study is proposed to investigate whether chemical oxidation (chlorination and ozonation) commonly employed in water/wastewater treatment is effective at removing antibiotics and whether potential bioactive by-products are being produced as a result of these treatment procedures. In particular, the antibiotics that have been detected in Georgia waters will be the focus of the study. Laboratory experiments will be conducted to investigate reaction kinetics and mechanisms and to examine the relationships between compound removal, chemical properties, process parameters, and water matrices. Results of this study will help establish a knowledge basis to predict removal of related antibiotics and other emerging micropollutants by chemical oxidation in water and wastewater treatment facilities and improve risks assessment for antibiotic contaminants.