Modeling of Sorption and Degradation of selected Pharmaceuticals: case study of Belgrade Groundwater Source

  • Milan Dimkić Jaroslav Černi Institute, Jaroslava Černog 80, 11226 Belgrade, Serbia
  • Srđan Kovačević University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 6, 21000 Novi Sad
  • Milenko Pušić Academy of Engineering Sciences of Serbia, Kraljice Marije 16/218a, 11120 Belgrade, Serbia
  • Milan Dotlić Jaroslav Černi Institute, Jaroslava Černog 80, 11226 Belgrade, Serbia
Keywords: degradation, half-life, pharmaceuticals, sorption, model

Abstract

The application of a mathematical model that analyzes the transport of selected pharmaceuticals from the Sava River to a corresponding radial collector well at Belgrade’s groundwater source is assessed. The occurrence of selected pharmaceuticals in surface water and the corresponding well was monitored from 2009 to 2015. The pharmaceuticals selected for the present study are carbamazepine, trimethoprim, and metamizole metabolites 4-AAA and 4-FAA. Transport is analyzed based on experimental data (sorption isotherms) and a field tracer experiment that includes injection of the selected pharmaceuticals. The analysis shows that sorption of carbamazepine is relatively low and that this pharmaceutical does not degrade under the studied conditions, so it is not possible to accurately determine the degradation half-life. Trimethoprim is detected in the Sava River with an average concentration 8.5 ng/l, but there is no positive detection in well Rb-16. The average concentration of 4-AAA in the surface water is 34 ng/l and of 4-FAA 13 ng/l. The average concentrations of 4-FAA and 4-AAA in the groundwater are in the range from 1 and 1.85 ng/l. The objective of the research is to use an existing hydrogeologic model and apply a transport model to determine the minimum degradation half-life of the investigated pharmaceuticals.

Published
2017-12-18
How to Cite
Dimkić, M., Kovačević, S., Pušić, M. and Dotlić, M. (2017) “Modeling of Sorption and Degradation of selected Pharmaceuticals: case study of Belgrade Groundwater Source”, Geološki anali Balkanskoga poluostrva, 78(1), pp. 47-59. doi: 10.2298/GABP1778047D.
Section
Original Scientific Paper