Determination of a broad spectrum of pharmaceuticals and endocrine disruptors in biofilm from a waste water treatment plant-impacted river

Abstract

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are one of the main sources of pharmaceuticals and endocrine disrupting compounds in freshwater ecosystems, and several studies have reported bioaccumulation of these compounds in different organisms in those ecosystems. River biofilms are exceptional indicators of pollution, but very few studies have focused on the accumulation of these emerging contaminants. The objectives of this study were first to develop an efficient analytical methodology for the simultaneous analysis of 44 pharmaceuticals and 13 endocrine disrupting compounds in biofilm, and second, to assess persistence, distribution, and bioaccumulation of these contaminants in natural biofilms inhabiting a WWTP-impacted river. The method is based on pressurized liquid extraction, purification by solid-phase extraction, and analysis by ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS/MS) in tandem. Recoveries for pharmaceuticals were 31-137%, and for endocrine disruptors 32-93%. Method detection limits for endocrine disruptors were in the range of 0.2-2.4 ng g(-1), and for pharmaceuticals, 0.07-6.7 ng g(-1). A total of five endocrine disruptors and seven pharmaceuticals were detected in field samples at concentrations up to 100 ng g(-1).

Immobilization of Planococcus sp. S5 Strain on the Loofah Sponge and Its Application in Naproxen Removal

“…This phenomenon is related to the sorption properties of exopolysaccharides (EPS). While the sorption of positively-charged compounds by EPS is more efficient due to anionic nature of biofilm, sorption of anionic organic molecules is limited due to electrostatic repulsion [36].…”

“…S5 were also prepared. For estimation of naproxen accumulation in the biofilm the drug extraction with modified Huerta et al protocol was performed [36]. Loofah sponges with immobilized bacteria were cut into small pieces and placed in 15 mL falcon tube with 10 mL of mixture of citric buffer (pH 4) and acetonitrile (1:1, v/v, Sigma-Aldrich, USA).…”

Excellent performance of copper based metal organic framework in adsorptive removal of toxic sulfonamide antibiotics from wastewater

“…Among these sulfonamide drugs, SCP is one of the most commonly used antibiotic in cattle farming either to treat bacterial infections and/or as a feed stock additives and husbandry because of its low cost and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. As a result, the discharge of SCP in water has been increased in recent years [9][10][11][12][13][14]. Due to high consumption of SCP and discharge into wastewater, it is highly recommended to treat the wastewater to comply with local and international environmental regulations.…”

Modeling Biofilms in Water Systems with New Variables: A Review

“…Biofilm is the dominant multicellular structure in nature, and it exists in almost all ecological niches and engineered systems, like in wastewater treatment processes [3,4] and on medical equipment [5,6]. In all cases, biofilms are structured by the matrix of microbes, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and other abiotic materials, including nutrients, signal molecules, and minerals [1].…”