Removal of endocrine disrupters in water under artificial light: the effect of organic matter

• Published in: Journal of water process engineering Vol. 27; pp. 126 - 133
• Main Authors: Bertoldi, Crislaine, Rodrigues, Amanda G., Fernandes, Andreia N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2019
• Subjects: Endocrine disruptor compounds; Fulvic acid; Natural organic matter; Photodegradation; Photodegradation; Endocrine disruptor compounds; Fulvic acid; Natural organic matter
• ISSN: 2214-7144; 2214-7144
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2018.11.016

[Display omitted] •Photodegradation of five EDC and their interaction with two portions of organic matter were studied.•Photolysis technique employing high-pressure vapor lamp had excellent performance in EDC photodegradation.•Higher removal was obtained to EE2, E2 and E3.•Photodegradation was more effective in environmental water matrix. The current research investigates the removal of endocrine disruptor compounds (EDC) in the absence and presence of organic matter in aqueous solution and natural water. In addition, the interactions of different fractions of natural organic matter (NOM) and fulvic acid (FA) in 17α-estradiol (EE2), 17β-estradiol (E2), estrone (E1) estriol (E3) and bisphenol A (BPA) were assessed. The interaction experiments between organic matter show that E3 has a higher sorption coefficient (Koc) in FA (0.0921 L mgC−1) with concentrations around 0.753 mg L−1 ± 0.0367. While at NOM, E2 has a major interaction with Koc of 0.0840 L mgC−1 and binding concentration in the range of 0.713 mg L−1 ± 0.0106. The photolysis experiment to 2.5 mg L−1 of initial concentration, with absence of organic matter, shows that EE2, E2, E3 and E1 have high removal with 95, 96, 97% and 80% after 180 min, respectively. On the other hand, the degradation of BPA at the same concentration was 53%. In the presence of NOM (1.0 mg L−1), E1 degradation was around 2 times faster than aqueous solution and FA (1.0 mg L−1). The results of E1 degradation between NOM with 1.0 mg L−1 and 5.0 mg L−1 had removal of 77 and 69%, respectively. In the natural water, the degradation of E2 and E3 was much faster than aqueous solution. These results could extend our knowledge on the photodegradation behaviours of EDC in natural waters.