Analysis of the effect of caffeine on the efficiency of wastewater treatment processes by integrated methods
The study evaluated caffeine's impact on wastewater treatment processes and developed an optimized technological chain. Biological treatment with activated sludge, activated carbon sorption, membrane filtration, and sanitization with ozone and UV were examined. Caffeine positively influenced mi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Desalination and Water Treatment |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1944398625002140 |
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| author | Angelika Skorupa Małgorzata Worwąg Mariusz Kowalczyk |
| author_facet | Angelika Skorupa Małgorzata Worwąg Mariusz Kowalczyk |
| author_sort | Angelika Skorupa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The study evaluated caffeine's impact on wastewater treatment processes and developed an optimized technological chain. Biological treatment with activated sludge, activated carbon sorption, membrane filtration, and sanitization with ozone and UV were examined. Caffeine positively influenced microorganism activity but hindered pollutant separation. An optimal Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) of 10 days in the sequential biological reactor achieved reductions of total organic carbon (TOC) by 86–91 %, ammonium nitrogen by 41–63 %, phosphates by 64–65 %, and turbidity by 28–69 %. Activated carbon sorption further reduced TOC (67–89 %), ammonium nitrogen (72–81 %), and turbidity (69–77 %), preparing samples for membrane filtration. The 0.2 µm membrane was more effective than the 0.45 µm one, achieving TOC reductions of up to 40 % and turbidity reductions of 32–89 %. Ozonation and UV sanitization for 15 min each effectively removed pathogens without compromising wastewater quality. The proposed process chain is simple, scalable, and adapted to the needs of the industry, especially in sectors generating wastewater containing caffeine, such as the coffee industry. The possibility of water recovery and reduction of operating costs is consistent with the assumptions of the circular economy. The research emphasizes the need for further optimization of process parameters and tests in real industrial conditions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0c21305898ec4bde90b3c07ad4d66eb7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1944-3986 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Desalination and Water Treatment |
| spelling | doaj-art-0c21305898ec4bde90b3c07ad4d66eb72025-08-20T03:24:32ZengElsevierDesalination and Water Treatment1944-39862025-04-0132210119810.1016/j.dwt.2025.101198Analysis of the effect of caffeine on the efficiency of wastewater treatment processes by integrated methodsAngelika Skorupa0Małgorzata Worwąg1Mariusz Kowalczyk2Corresponding author.; Faculty of Infrastructure and Environmental, Czestochowa University of Technology, Czestochowa 42-200, PolandFaculty of Infrastructure and Environmental, Czestochowa University of Technology, Czestochowa 42-200, PolandFaculty of Infrastructure and Environmental, Czestochowa University of Technology, Czestochowa 42-200, PolandThe study evaluated caffeine's impact on wastewater treatment processes and developed an optimized technological chain. Biological treatment with activated sludge, activated carbon sorption, membrane filtration, and sanitization with ozone and UV were examined. Caffeine positively influenced microorganism activity but hindered pollutant separation. An optimal Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) of 10 days in the sequential biological reactor achieved reductions of total organic carbon (TOC) by 86–91 %, ammonium nitrogen by 41–63 %, phosphates by 64–65 %, and turbidity by 28–69 %. Activated carbon sorption further reduced TOC (67–89 %), ammonium nitrogen (72–81 %), and turbidity (69–77 %), preparing samples for membrane filtration. The 0.2 µm membrane was more effective than the 0.45 µm one, achieving TOC reductions of up to 40 % and turbidity reductions of 32–89 %. Ozonation and UV sanitization for 15 min each effectively removed pathogens without compromising wastewater quality. The proposed process chain is simple, scalable, and adapted to the needs of the industry, especially in sectors generating wastewater containing caffeine, such as the coffee industry. The possibility of water recovery and reduction of operating costs is consistent with the assumptions of the circular economy. The research emphasizes the need for further optimization of process parameters and tests in real industrial conditions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1944398625002140Wastewater treatmentSequencing batch reactor (SBR)CaffeineActivated carbonMembranesSanitization |
| spellingShingle | Angelika Skorupa Małgorzata Worwąg Mariusz Kowalczyk Analysis of the effect of caffeine on the efficiency of wastewater treatment processes by integrated methods Desalination and Water Treatment Wastewater treatment Sequencing batch reactor (SBR) Caffeine Activated carbon Membranes Sanitization |
| title | Analysis of the effect of caffeine on the efficiency of wastewater treatment processes by integrated methods |
| title_full | Analysis of the effect of caffeine on the efficiency of wastewater treatment processes by integrated methods |
| title_fullStr | Analysis of the effect of caffeine on the efficiency of wastewater treatment processes by integrated methods |
| title_full_unstemmed | Analysis of the effect of caffeine on the efficiency of wastewater treatment processes by integrated methods |
| title_short | Analysis of the effect of caffeine on the efficiency of wastewater treatment processes by integrated methods |
| title_sort | analysis of the effect of caffeine on the efficiency of wastewater treatment processes by integrated methods |
| topic | Wastewater treatment Sequencing batch reactor (SBR) Caffeine Activated carbon Membranes Sanitization |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1944398625002140 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT angelikaskorupa analysisoftheeffectofcaffeineontheefficiencyofwastewatertreatmentprocessesbyintegratedmethods AT małgorzataworwag analysisoftheeffectofcaffeineontheefficiencyofwastewatertreatmentprocessesbyintegratedmethods AT mariuszkowalczyk analysisoftheeffectofcaffeineontheefficiencyofwastewatertreatmentprocessesbyintegratedmethods |