Data on biodegradability and adsorbability of the selected MPs from previous studiesa.
| Pharmaceutical | Biodegradability | Adsorbability |
|---|---|---|
| Amidotrizoic acid (ATA) | Extremely low | Extremely low |
| Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) | Low to moderate (kbiol ≤ 0.15 L (g sludge d)−1) | Low |
| Bezafibrate (BZF) | Moderate (kbiol = 2.55 L (g sludge d)−1) | Moderate (KF,S = 160) |
| Carbamazepine (CBZ) | Very low (kbiol = 0.006 L (g sludge d)−1) | Good (KF,S = 393–476) |
| Diclofenac (DCF) | Very low (kbiol = 0.035 L (g sludge d)−1) | Moderate (KF,S = 245–278) |
| Iopromide (IPM) | Moderate (kbiol = 2 L (g sludge d)−1) | Extremely low (KF,S = 2.4) |
a
According to Joss et al. (2006):20kbiol < 0.1 L (g sludge d)−1: non-biodegradable substances, removal rate <10%; 0.1 < kbiol <10 L (g sludge d)−1: partially biodegradable substances, removal rate is variable between 10–90%. This group includes the majority of medicines and personal care products; kbiol > 10 L (g sludge d)−1: readily biodegradable substances, removal rate >95%.