Caffeine removal in selected wastewater treatment processes

The research aimed to determine the efficiency of caffeine removal from synthetic wastewater, using biological wastewater treatment and a multi-stage process line. The study was carried out in a Sequential Biological Reactor (SBR) with different hydraulic retention times – 5, 10, 15, and 25 days, and in a process line consisting of biological treatment supplemented by the following treatment processes: sorption on activated carbon, membrane filtration, ozonation, and UV radiation. Analysis of caffeine concentration after the treatment processes was performed by liquid chromatography. Biological wastewater treatment in SBR effectively reduced caffeine to below the detection limit (<0.1 mg/dm3), regardless of the initial concentration and treatment options used. Additional pretreatment processes did not significantly enhance caffeine reduction. The results indicate the potential for using SBR as an effective and environmentally friendly method of caffeine removal. The study involved synthetic wastewater; hence, further research is needed on real samples.