Advanced oxidative processes and membrane separation for micropollutant removal from biotreated domestic wastewater

Abstract

The presence of micropollutants in sewage is already widely known, as well as the effects caused by natural and synthetic hormones. Thus, it is necessary to apply treatments to remove them from water systems, such as advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) and membrane separation processes, which can oxidize and remove high concentrations of organic compounds. This work investigated the removal of 17β-estradiol (E2), 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), and estriol (E3) from biotreated sewage. Reverse osmosis processes were conducted at three recoveries (50, 60, and 70 %). For E2 and EE2, the removals were affected by the recovery. The best results for RO were as follows: the E2 compound removal was 89 % for 60 % recovery and the EE2 compound removal was 57 % for 50 % recovery. The RO recovery did not impact the E3 removal. It was concluded that the interaction between the evaluated estrogens, and the membrane was the major factor for the hormone separation. The AOP treatment using HO/UV was carried out in two sampling campaigns. First, we evaluated the variation of UV doses (24.48, 73.44, 122.4, and 244.8 kJ m) with 18.8 mg L of HO in the reaction. EE2 showed considerable removals (around 70 %). In order to optimize the results, an experimental design was applied. The best result was obtained with higher UV dose (122.4 kJ m) and lower HO concentration (4 mg L), achieving removal of 91 % for E3 and 100 % for E2 and EE2.

Micropollutant Removal from Water by Membrane and Advanced Oxidation Processes—A Review

“…Silva et al [73] ) eliminated the presence of the two first estrogens and 91% of estriol. The authors concluded that AOP was effective although the membrane process, which couldn't remove estrogens tested.…”

Recent Advances in the Rejection of Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds from Water Using Membrane and Membrane Bioreactor Technologies: A Review

“…The two significant limitations observed from this study were a decline in the filtration capacity, due to fouling and quick fouling in the MF membrane; thus, reducing the removal efficiency from 37% to 24%. Interestingly, a higher removal efficiency of 97% was reported by Al-Rifai et al [ 58 ] as MF and RO were combined in treating EDCs. However, BPA of a concentration of 500 ng/L was discovered in the effluent after the treatment process, and higher energy demand was required.…”

“…Globally, several EDCs contaminants have been detected in effluent discharged from WWTF, frequently at a proportion of hundreds of nanograms per liter to micrograms-per-liter scale [ 40 ]. Furthermore, there has been an increasing amount of literature that emphasized and reported series of health challenges associated with endocrine-disrupting compounds, such as interference with the endocrine system of man and animals by influencing the synthesis, release, transport, metabolism, and excretion of hormones in the body, mimicking, blocking, disrupting the normal function of hormone system in humans thereby causing severe effects, such as abnormal reproductive growth, cardiovascular changes, reduction of sperm reproduction in humans which result to low fertility, thyroid and adrenal gland dysfunctions, immune, neurological diseases, developmental dysfunctions throughout the fetal period, stimulation of breast cancer in women, development of testicular and prostate cancer, a decline in reproductive fitness of men and increased threat to human [ 19 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 ]. In addition, EDCs have also be linked with altered behavior and obesity in children, reduced gonadal development and viability, alter physiological status in humans and wildlife [ 51 , 52 ].…”

Contemporary Techniques for Remediating Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds in Various Water Sources: Advances in Treatment Methods and Their Limitations

“…Notably, exposure to EDCs by humans and wildlife results from the intake of chemicals through foods and drinking water consumption, which results in biomagnification and bioaccumulation, particularly in species at the highest level of the food web [ 44 ]. Furthermore, research findings have also reported negative impacts of EDCs on animals, as they affect the hormonal systems of organisms, binding to receptors in animals and mimicking the activities of estrogen, obstructing the normal action of the endocrine system and inciting reproductive syndrome, feminization, and carcinogenesis in numerous wildlife animals; they affect the synthesis release, transport, and interface with female estrogen and disrupt the reproductive growth and behavior of animals; and they interfere with the delicate balance of the endocrine system of animals, altering the physical status in wildlife and natural hormone activities and threatening the reproductive biology and health of an animal populace [ 42 , 43 , 45 , 46 , 47 ].…”