Influence of manganese and ammonium oxidation on the removal of 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2)

• Published in: Water research (Oxford) Vol. 43; no. 1; pp. 77 - 86
• Main Authors: Forrez, Ilse, Carballa, Marta, Noppe, Herlinde, De Brabander, Hubert, Boon, Nico, Verstraete, Willy
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: 17alpha-ethinylestradiol; ammonia; Applied sciences; Biodegradation, Environmental - drug effects; Bioreactors; catalysts; EDC; endocrine-disrupting chemicals; equipment design; equipment performance; estrogenic properties; Estrogens; Ethinyl Estradiol - isolation & purification; Exact sciences and technology; manganese; Manganese - pharmacology; Manganese oxides; Nitrification; Nitrogen - metabolism; Nitrosomonadaceae; Other industrial wastes. Sewage sludge; oxidation; Oxidation-Reduction - drug effects; Pollution; Post-treatment; Pseudomonas putida - drug effects; Pseudomonas putida - metabolism; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds - pharmacology; Sorption; Waste Disposal, Fluid; Wastes; wastewater treatment; Water treatment and pollution; Sorption; Manganese oxides; Post-treatment; EDC; Estrogens; Nitrification; Ammonium; Estrogen; Biological activity; Sewage treatment plant; Ammonia; Bacteria; Oxidation; Reactor
• ISSN: 0043-1354; 1879-2448
• DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2008.10.006

Flow-through reactors with manganese oxides were examined for their capacity to remove 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) at μg L −1 and ng L −1 range from synthetic wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent. The mineral MnO 2 reactors removed 93% at a volumetric loading rate ( B V) of 5 μg EE2 L −1 d −1 and from a B V of 40 μg EE2 L −1 d −1 on, these reactors showed 75% EE2 removal. With the biologically produced manganese oxides, only 57% EE2 was removed at 40 μg EE2 L −1 d −1. EE2 removal in the ng L −1 range was 84%. The ammonium present in the influent (10 mg N L −1) was nitrified and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) were found to be of prime importance for the degradation of EE2. Remarkably, EE2 removal by AOB continued for a period of 4 months after depleting NH 4 + in the influent. EE2 removal by manganese-oxidizing bacteria was inhibited by NH 4 +. These results indicate that the metabolic properties of nitrifiers can be employed to polish water containing EE2 based estrogenic activity.