Tiamulin Removal From Wastewater

Tiamulin is a valuable antibiotic used extensively in veterinary practice. Its applications extend to the treatment of various bacterial infections in pigs, poultry, and other farm animals.

Tiamulin is particularly effective against respiratory diseases in swine, such as swine dysentery, pleuropneumonia, and enzootic pneumonia.

The antibiotic is administered through feed or water, making it a convenient for treating these animals. It works by inhibiting the growth of bacteria, specifically those in the Firmicutes phylum, blocking protein synthesis within the bacterial cells.

While Tiamulin is instrumental in maintaining animal health and ensuring food safety, its presence in water bodies has become concerning. The potential environmental impact arises from the excretion of Tiamulin residues by animals, entering watercourses and potentially affecting aquatic ecosystems.

Tiamulin can enter water bodies through various routes after its administration, including excretion by animals as well as runoff from fields or pens. Once in water, Tiamulin can persist for extended periods, depending on environmental conditions.

The long-term and short-term damage caused by Tiamulin in aquatic environments is a significant concern. Even at low concentrations, Tiamulin residues can disrupt microbial communities and affect the balance of aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, the persistence of Tiamulin in water can lead to bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms, posing health risks to organisms higher up the food chain.

Research studies have indicated that Tiamulin can persist in sediment for up to several months, further emphasizing the need for effective removal from water.

The Nyex Ellenox™ system from Arvia Technology offers a state-of-the-art electrochemical solution for Tiamulin removal from water.

Ellenox™ destroys organic contamination in water by producing powerful hydroxyl (·OH ) radicals. During treatment, the high concentration of ·OH radicals indiscriminately attack even hard-to-adsorb compounds.
No chemical dosing is required and no toxic sludge is produced.

This water treatment technique is tried and tested, but what makes a huge difference to its efficiency is the internal design and the materials used in our reactors.
We have refined the design over a number of years and the result is a reliable, highly efficient water treatment process.

If you would like to learn more

Ozone treatment is an effective oxidation process used to remove Tiamulin from water. During this treatment, ozone (O3) is introduced into the water, where it reacts with Tiamulin molecules, breaking them down into smaller, less harmful byproducts. The use of ozone for Tiamulin removal has several advantages:

1. Strong Oxidation: Ozone is a powerful oxidant capable of breaking down a wide range of organic compounds, including Tiamulin.

2. No Harmful Byproducts: Ozone treatment does not produce harmful residual byproducts in water.

However, there are also challenges associated with ozone treatment. Ozone itself is toxic so appropriate measures must be taken to handle it safely during the treatment process.

Additionally, the efficiency of ozone treatment may be affected by water quality parameters, such as pH and the presence of other contaminants.

Granular activated carbon (GAC) is another effective method for removing Tiamulin from water. GAC is a porous material that has a very high surface area, allowing it to adsorb Tiamulin molecules from the water. The advantages of GAC for Tiamulin removal include:

1. High Adsorption Capacity: GAC can effectively adsorb Tiamulin because of its large surface area and porous structure.

2. Versatility: GAC can be used in both batch and continuous flow systems for water treatment.

However, the main challenge with GAC is the management of spent carbon waste, which inevitably contains concentrated Tiamulin. Proper disposal and regeneration of spent GAC are essential to prevent environmental contamination.

For an objective view of the environmental credentials of GAC, see this article: see this article.