The Bioaccumulation and Biodegradation of Testosterone by Chlorella vulgaris

Abstract

: In the present study, the accumulation and degradation of testosterone by Chlorella vulgaris were studied. The results showed that C. vulgaris has a significant ability to eliminate testosterone by bioaccumulation and biodegradation, and during the 96 h experimental period, the data demonstrated that the accumulation of testosterone followed a sigmoidal accumulation pattern. At the end of the experiment, the bioconcentration percentages of testosterone by C. vulgaris in the high-concentration group and the low-concentration group were 11.49 ± 2.78% and 40.10 ± 1.98%, respectively, and the biodegradation percentages of testosterone were 69.64 ± 4.33% and 42.48 ± 1.92%, respectively. The rate of biodegradation of testosterone by C. vulgaris mainly depended on the relative initial concentration of testosterone. When the relative initial concentration of testosterone increases, the degradation may gradually change from zero-order kinetics to second-order kinetics.

Progress in microalgal mediated bioremediation systems for the removal of antibiotics and pharmaceuticals from wastewater

“…derived biochar and reported tetracycline removal of up to 132.8 mg TC/g biochar in a batch experiment (Choi et al, 2020). Fu et al (2019), performed a pilot-scale study for removal of PPCPs from drinking water, employing two parallel trains of two-stage biofiltration (sand/anthracite biofilter coupled with a biologically active granular carbon post filter) and were able to remove PPCPs up to 53.4%. The major drawbacks of the conventional approach are cost, membrane fouling, and the generation of toxic byproducts.…”

Suitability of Immobilized Systems for Microbiological Degradation of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds

“…Like estrogens they can interfere with the normal functioning of the endocrine system of non-target organisms in trace concentration and they have many sources from which they get into the water, and due to filtration they also get into underground water. One of the most commonly identified androgens in the environment is testosterone, its presence in the environment may cause a high percentage of males in the aquatic environment, appearance of male secondary sex characteristics in female fish, inhibition of vitellogenin induction, reduction of reproductive capacity and masculinization in mammals [ 26 ]. For example, defeminisation has been observed in fathead minnows that have been exposed to wastewater from cattle farms [ 27 ].…”

“…Bacteria that degrade these hormones belong to genera such as Bacillus , Virgibacillus , Novosphingobium , Rhodococcus , Acinetobacter , Pseudomonas , Sphingomonas , Enterobacter , Klebsiella , Aeromonas , Comamonas , Thauera , Deinococcus , Stenotrophomonas and cyanobacteria [ 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 10 , 12 , 25 , 28 , 31 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ]. Raphidocelis subcapitata , Chlorella vulgaris , Chlorococcus and Scenedesmus quadricauda belong to algae capable of removing hormones [ 11 , 26 , 40 , 41 ]. Fungi from genus Trichoderma , Trametes , Phanerochaete , Pleurotus , Aspergillus , Lentinula , Drechslera , Curvularia , Penicillium , Acremonium , Fusarium , Gibberella , Beauvaria , Doaratomyces , Scopulariopsis , Chaetomidium , Thielavia , Neurospora , Absidia , Cunninghamella , Actinomucor , Rhizopus , Phycomyces , Mortierella , Circinella and Ganoderma ( Table 2 ) were also described as being capable of hormone biodegradation/biotransformation [ 22 , 30 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ].…”

“…It was shown that more degradation-resistant diethylstilbestrol is easily adsorbed compared to 17β-estradiol. Despite the ability to adsorb and accumulate in the wall of the microalgae, it appears that the main process for hormone removal is biotransformation/biodegradation [ 11 , 26 ]. Enzymes such as peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase and cytochrome P450 are mainly involved in the biotransformation processes of these compounds [ 11 ].…”

Phytochemicals of algae, Arthospira platensis (spirulina) Chlorella vulgaris (chlorella) and Azolla pinnata (azolla)

“…Chlorella bio transforms estradiol into estrone, helps in clearing estrone and leaving estriol (the antioxidant form of estrogen), alone [20]. Chlorella vulgaris has a significant ability to bioaccumulate testosterone [21].…”