Dror Avisar, Ph.D.

Dror Avisar, Ph.D.

Head, Hydro-chemistry Laboratory

Tel Aviv University

Speech Title:

Treatment of hospital wastewater using hybrid MBR-modified AOP technology: Pilot study

Abstract:

Upstream treatment of hospital wastewater is a relatively new approach that until now has been examined in a limited number of studies. The research findings point on a high potential of the approach in elimination of organic micropllutants (OMPs) already within the hospital premises. The main bottleneck however is the current stage of optimization of existing treatment technologies for a combined cost-efficient elimination of OMPs. Previous studies explored the potential of biological treatment that was significantly lower than requested treatment goals. Some new studies proposed complementary treatments after biotreatment including MBR based on either active carbon or ozone based Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP). Here we proposed, for a first time, a hybrid biological physical treatment based on a combination of membrane bioreactor (MBR) and AOP that is part of the biotreatment and does not come as a complementary treatment. Pilot experiments performed at Tel Hashomer hospital and included patented modifications of AOP to achieve a maximal retention of OMP combined with a precise pore size modification of MBR membranes.

Bio:

Prof. Dror Avisar is currently a faculty member, a senior lecturer (associate professor) and the head of the hydrochemistry laboratory at Tel-Aviv University (TAU), Israel. The Hydro-Chemistry research group was set up in 2005 by Avisar, after returning from University of California Santa Barbara (USCB). Dror saw the importance and scientific potential in the new and emerging field of nano-micro contamination of water. This is a unique research group aiming to carry out studies on the understanding the physico-chemical processes of the occurrence and transport of pharmaceutical contaminants and other nano-micro contaminants within the aquatic environment. Dror’s current research activities include: The identification of specific degradation products of selected drugs; Antibiotic sorption to sediment and sludge; The occurrence of antibiotics residues in groundwater beneath effluent irrigated fields and industrial fish ponds; The development of antibacterial resistance by exposure to wastewater; Photolysis and oxidation of micro-pollutants in hospital wastwwater; AOP as pretreatment technology for removing pharmaceutical residues from industrial, domestic and hospital wastewater; Constructed wetland as a low tech technology for estrogens removal from secondary effluent; Micropollutants breakdown and disinfection using solar irradiation and TION. The laboratory contains state-of-the-art equipment and is staffed by a strong team of highly motivated graduate students and researchers.