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. 2022 Oct 10;10(10):598. doi: 10.3390/toxics10100598

Table 3.

Applied treatment of the selected NSAIDs from wastewater treatment plants.

Compound Type of Treatment Removal% Country Observations References
Diclofenac CAS + UV/chlorine 18–45 Spain
  • -

    This removal was achieved after combination with ultraviolet or chlorine

  • -

    Hydraulic retention time was between 1 and 3 days

  • -

    Samples were collected weekly within two months

  • -

    All samples were stored at 4 °C without filtration

 [74]
(HSF CW) 42 Czech Republic
  • -

    Mean of four constructed wetlands located in the drinking water reservoir watershed

  • -

    Samples were collected in six months

  • -

    Every 4 h, samples were collected and then preserved in freeze

 [52]
NA 4–88 South Africa
  • -

    Range of removal refers to three selected WWTPs

  • -

    Samples were collected within five months

  • -

    Samples were filtered immediately, and pH was adjusted to 2.5

  • -

    After that, samples were stored at 4 °C

 [75]
(GC) + (AT) + (SST) + (MP-SDU) 80 South Africa
  • -

    Mean of two WWTPs receiving from hospitals

  • -

    All four treatment processes were combined together

  • -

    Samples were collected in duplicate for only two months, August and December 2015

  • -

    10 mL of formaldehyde was added immediately to the sample and then stored at 4 °C

 [76]
Chlorination 81 South Africa
  • -

    Samples were collected weekly from two WWTPs within May 2016

  • -

    Samples were filtered first, then stored at 4 °C

 [75]
NA 30 and (−174) Algeria
  • -

    Samples were collected from two different WWTPs; the second WWTPs exhibited high concentrations in effluent rather than influent

  • -

    Samples were collected in November 2014

  • -

    Samples were filtered immediately; pH of the sample was adjusted to 2.5–3 and then stored at 4 °C

 [51]
Primary treatment:
(SGR + SD)
Secondary treatment: (CAS + SD)
Disinfection system: (UR) 		13–89 Turkey
  • -

    Samples were collected from one WWTP

  • -

    Samples were collected every day in Summer (August) and Winter (January), so the removal% was written as a range

  • -

    Samples were collected in amber glass bottles and then stored at 4 °C

 [77]
(SR) + (CST) + (ASBT) 39 Spain
  • -

    Samples were collected from one STP for five consecutive days from July 2003 to April 2004

  • -

    Samples were collected using amber glass bottled and then filtered before storage at 4 °C

 [78]
WWTP1: (SD + BAF + UD)
WWTP2: (SD + SOOD + UD)
WWTP3: (SD + AA/O + SD + CD) 		18 China
  • -

    Removal% was calculated as an average of three WWTPs

  • -

    Source of the sample is domestic and industrial wastewater

  • -

    Samples were collected one time in four months in 2013

 [79]
(CMBT) −41 Poland
  • -

    Samples were collected every 1–2 weeks from December 2012 to November 2013, covering four seasons

  • -

    Removal% was calculated as average within one year of obtained results

  • -

    Samples were collected from WWTP using amber glass bottles and then stored immediately at 4 °C

 [42]
(AST) 38 Italy
  • -

    Removal efficiency% was calculated as the average of four WWTPs in two months

  • -

    Samples were collected every day for one week in February and May 2011

  • -

    Samples were collected from four WWTPs and it receive mainly domestic and industrial wastewater

  • -

    Samples were filtered first and then adjusted to pH 3.6, and after that, stored at −20 °C

 [80]
(PS + AST) −55 Spain
  • -

    Removal was calculated as the average of four WWTPs

  • -

    Sixteen samples were collected from January 2008 to January 2009

  • -

    Samples were collected using amber glass bottles and then stored at 4 °C

 [81]
(CAS) 83 Portugal
  • -

    Removal was calculated as the mean of two WWTPs

  • -

    Samples were collected monthly from October 2013 to June 2014

  • -

    Samples were collected in high-density polyethylene bottles and then filtered after that stored at −20 °C

  • -

    Source of wastewater is domestic, hospital effluents, piggeries effluents, and landfill leachate

 [82]
Ketoprofen (SR) + Chlorination 88–90 South Africa
  • -

    Three different wastewater treatment plants

  • -

    Samples were collected once per week within May 2016

 [83]
(MBR) 100
  • -

    Complete removal observed after combination with ultraviolet or chlorination

  • -

    Hydraulic retention time was between 1 and 3 days

  • -

    Samples were collected weekly within two months

  • -

    All samples were stored at 4 °C without filtration

 [74]
(HSF CW) 52 Czech Republic
  • -

    Mean of three constructed wetlands located in drinking water reservoir watershed

  • -

    Samples were collected in six months

  • -

    Every 4 h, samples were collected and then preserved in freeze

 [52]
NA −83 Algeria
  • -

    Samples were collected from two different WWTPs

  • -

    In the first WWTPs, ketoprofen was not detected in influent and effluent. In the second WWTPs, ketoprofen exhibited a high concentration in effluent rather than influent

  • -

    Samples were collected in November 2014

  • -

    Samples were filtered immediately; pH of the sample was adjusted to 2.5–3 and then stored at 4 °C

 [51]
  • -

    Primary treatment: (S + GR + SD)

  • -

    Secondary treatment: (CAS + SS)

  • -

    Disinfection system: (UR)

 74–81 Turkey
  • -

    Samples were collected from one WWTP

  • -

    Samples were collected every day in Summer (August) and Winter (January) so the removal% was written as range

  • -

    Samples were collected in amber glass bottles then stored at 4 °C

 [77]
(GC) + (AT) + (SST) + (MP-SDU) 63 South Africa
  • -

    Mean of two WWTPs receiving from hospitals

  • -

    All four treatment processes were combined together

  • -

    Samples were collected in duplicate for only two months, August and December 2015

  • -

    10 mL of formaldehyde was added immediately to the sample and then stored at 4 °C

 [76]
(CMBT) 94 Poland
  • -

    Samples were collected every 1–2 weeks from December 2012 to November 2013 covering four seasons

  • -

    Removal% was calculated as average within one year

  • -

    Samples were collected from WWTP using amber glass bottles and then stored immediately at 4 °C

 [42]
  • -

    WWTP1: (SD + BAF + UD)

  • -

    WWTP2: (SD + SOOD + UD)

  • -

    WWTP3: (SD + AA/O + SD + CD)

 8 China
  • -

    Removal % was calculated as the average of three WWTPs

  • -

    Source of the sample is domestic and industrial wastewater

  • -

    Samples were collected one time in four months in 2013

 [79]
(PS + AST) 88 Spain
  • -

    Removal was calculated as the average of four WWTPs

  • -

    Sixteen samples were collected from January 2008 to January 2009

  • -

    Samples were collected using amber glass bottles and then stored at 4 °C

 [81]
(CAS) −59 Portugal
  • -

    Removal was calculated as the mean of two WWTPs

  • -

    Samples were collected monthly from October 2013 to June 2014

  • -

    Samples were collected in high-density polyethylene bottles and then filtered after that stored at −20 °C

  • -

    Source of wastewater is domestic, hospital effluents, piggeries effluents, and landfill leachate

 [82]
Naproxen (CAS + UV/chlorine) 28–55 Spain
  • -

    The removal was achieved after combination with UV or chlorine

  • -

    Hydraulic retention time was between 1 and 3 days

  • -

    Samples were collected weekly within two months

  • -

    All samples were stored at 4 °C without filtration

 [74]
(MBR) 100
  • -

    Complete removal observed after combination with ultraviolet or chlorination.

  • -

    Hydraulic retention time was between 1 and 3 days

  • -

    Samples were collected weekly within two months

  • -

    All samples were stored at 4 °C without filtration

 [74]
NA 16–87 South Africa
  • -

    The removal% was for three selected WWTPs within five months

  • -

    Samples were collected within five months

  • -

    Samples were filtered immediately, and pH was adjusted to 2.5

  • -

    After that, samples were stored at 4 °C

 [75]
Chlorination 95 South Africa
  • -

    Samples were collected weekly from two WWTPs within May 2016

  • -

    Samples were filtered first and then stored at 4 °C

 [75]
NA 73 Algeria
  • -

    Samples were collected from two different WWTPs in November 2014

  • -

    Samples were filtered immediately; pH of the sample was adjusted to 2.5–3 and then stored at 4 °C

 [51]
  • -

    Primary treatment: (S + GR + SD)

  • -

    Secondary treatment: (CAS + SS)

  • -

    Disinfection system: (UR)

 99–88 Turkey
  • -

    Samples were collected from one WWTP

  • -

    Samples were collected every day in summer (August) and winter (January), so the removal% was written as range

  • -

    The source of wastewater is domestic, hospital, and industrial wastewaters

  • -

    Samples were collected in amber glass bottles and then stored at 4 °C

 [77]
(AST) 47 Italy
  • -

    Removal efficiency% was calculated as the average of four WWTPs in two months

  • -

    Samples were collected every day for one week in February and May 2011

  • -

    Samples were collected from four WWTPs, and they receive mainly domestic and industrial wastewater

  • -

    Samples were filtered first and then adjusted to pH 3.6; after that, they were stored at −20 °C

 [80]
(PS + AST) 57 Spain
  • -

    Removal was calculated as the average of four WWTPs

  • -

    Sixteen samples were collected from January 2008 to January 2009

  • -

    Samples were collected using amber glass bottles and then stored at 4 °C

 [81]
(CAS) 86 Portugal
  • -

    Removal was calculated as the mean of two WWTPs

  • -

    Samples were collected monthly from October 2013 to June 2014

  • -

    Samples were collected in high-density polyethylene bottles and then filtered; after that, it was stored at −20 °C

  • -

    Source of wastewater is domestic, hospital effluents, piggeries effluents, and landfill leachate

 [82]
Ibuprofen (HSF CW) 56 Czech Republic
  • -

    Mean of four constructed wetlands located in drinking water reservoir watershed

  • -

    Samples were collected in six months

  • -

    Every 4 h, samples were collected and then preserved in freeze

 [52]
NA 25–83 South Africa
  • -

    Range of removal refers to three selected WWTPs

  • -

    Samples were collected within five months

  • -

    Samples were filtered immediately, and pH was adjusted to 2.5

  • -

    After that samples were stored at 4 °C

 [75]
Chlorination 95 South Africa
  • -

    Samples were collected weekly from two WWTPs within May 2016

  • -

    Samples were filtered first and then stored at 4 °C

 [75]
NA 88 Algeria
  • -

    Samples were collected from two different WWTPs

  • -

    Samples were collected in November 2014

  • -

    Samples were filtered immediately; pH of the sample was adjusted to 2.5–3 and then stored at 4 °C

 [51]
  • -

    Primary treatment: (S + GR + SD)

  • -

    Secondary treatment: (CAS + SD)

  • -

    Disinfection system: (UR)

 97–80 Turkey
  • -

    Samples were collected from one WWTP

  • -

    Samples were collected every day in summer (August) and winter (January) so the removal% was written as range

  • -

    Samples were collected in amber glass bottles then stored at 4 °C

 [77]
(SR) + (CST) + (ASBT) 83 Spain
  • -

    Samples were collected from one STP for five consecutive days from July 2003 to April 2004

  • -

    Samples were collected using amber glass bottled and then filtered before storage at 4 °C

 [78]
(CMBT) 98 Poland
  • -

    Samples were collected every 1–2 weeks from December 2012 to November 2013, covering four seasons

  • -

    Removal% was calculated as average within one year of obtained results

  • -

    Samples were collected from WWTP using amber glass bottles and then stored immediately at 4 °C

 [42]
WWTP1: (SD + BAF + UD)
WWTP2: (SD + SOOD + UD)
WWTP3: (SD + AA/O + SD + CD) 		83 China
  • -

    Removal% was calculated as the average of three WWTPs

  • -

    Source of the sample is domestic and industrial wastewater

  • -

    Samples were collected one time in four months in 2013

 [79]
(PS + AST) 87 Spain
  • -

    Removal was calculated as average of four WWTPs

  • -

    Sixteen samples were collected from January 2008 to January 2009

  • -

    Samples were collected using amber glass bottles and then stored at 4 °C

 [81]
(CAS) 90 Portugal
  • -

    Removal was calculated as the mean of two WWTPs

  • -

    Samples were collected monthly from October 2013 to June 2014

  • -

    Samples were collected in high-density polyethylene bottles and then filtered after that stored at −20 °C

  • -

    Source of wastewater is domestic, hospital effluents, piggeries effluents, and landfill leachate

 [82]
(AS) + (UD) 17 Canada
  • -

    Removal efficiency was calculated as mean of three WWTPs

  • -

    Samples were collected in July, October, and March to cover three seasons: summer, fall, and winter, respectively

  • -

    Samples were collected every two weeks within one month

  • -

    Collected samples were frozen before further analysis

 [84]
(GC) + (AT) + (SST) + (MP-SDU) 85 South Africa
  • -

    Mean of two WWTPs received from hospitals

  • -

    All four treatment processes were combined together

  • -

    Samples were collected in duplicate for only two months August and December 2015

  • -

    10 mL of formaldehyde was added immediately to the sample and then stored at 4 °C

 [76]
(AST) 63 Italy
  • -

    Removal% was calculated as the average of four WWTPs in two months

  • -

    Samples were collected every day for one week in February and May 2011

  • -

    Samples were collected from four WWTPs, and they received mainly domestic and industrial wastewater

  • -

    Samples were filtered first and then adjusted to pH 3.6; after that, they were stored at −20 °C

 [80]

Conventional activated sludge (CAS); horizontal subsurface flow (HSF); grit channels (GC); aeration tanks (AT); secondary sedimentation tank (SST); maturation pond sludge dewatering units (MP-SDU); primary treatment included screening, grit removal then sedimentation (SGR + SD); secondary treatment included conventional activated sludge and sedimentation (CAS + SD); disinfection system included ultraviolet radiation (UR); solid removal (SR); circular sedimentation tank (CST); activated sludge biological treatment (ASBT); WWTP1: sedimentation, biological aerated filter and UV disinfection (SD + BAF + UD); WWTP2: sedimentation, orbal oxidation ditches, sedimentation and UV disinfection (SD + SOOD + UD); WWTP3: primary sedimentation, anaerobic/anoxic/oxic, sedimentation and chemical disinfection (SD + AA/O + SD + CD); Conventional mechanical biological treatment (CMBT); activated sludge treatment (AST); primary settling, and activated sludge treatment (PS + AST); microbiological reactor (MBR); horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland (HSF CW); primary treatment included screening, grit removal then sedimentation (S + GR + SD); secondary treatment included conventional activated sludge and sedimentation (CAS + SD); aerated sewage (AS).