A removal of the antiepileptic drug carbamazepine is frequently observed under anaerobic redox conditions at managed aquifer recharge sites. The biological influence on this effect is widely unknown and therefore it is the focus of this study. Anaerobic degradation batch tests and long-term soil column experiments, conducted within this study, suggest a removal of 2 to 50% induced by microbiological processes. Transformation products and their molecular structures are suggested – one of them is clearly identified as 10,11-dihydro-carbamazepine. This study provides a deeper understanding regarding the biotic reduction of carbamazepine.
