Investigation on the removal of natural and synthetic estrogens using biofilms in continuous flow biofilm reactors and batch experiments analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

• Published in: Water research (Oxford) Vol. 45; no. 3; pp. 1105 - 1114
• Main Authors: Pieper, Christina, Rotard, Wolfgang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Bacteria; biofilm; Biofilms; Biofilms - growth & development; Bioreactor; Bioreactors - microbiology; Continuous flow; Decomposition; Degradation; detection limit; Estradiol; Estradiol - analysis; Estradiol - metabolism; estriol; Estrogens; Estrogens - analysis; Estrogens - metabolism; Estrone; Estrone - analysis; Estrone - metabolism; Ethinylestradiol; Exact sciences and technology; Freshwater; gas chromatography; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; mass spectrometry; metabolites; Microbial degradation; microorganisms; national parks; Naturally derived biofilms; Other industrial wastes. Sewage sludge; pollutants; Pollution; public water supply; Reactors; rivers; solid phase extraction; steroid hormones; Strain; surface water; synthetic estrogens; Wastes; water treatment; Water treatment and pollution; Germany; Europe; Ethinylestradiol; Estrone; Bioreactor; Naturally derived biofilms; Estradiol; Microbial degradation; Steroid; Solid phase extraction; Water treatment; Metabolite; Silylation; Estrogen; 17β-Estradiol; Biological purification; National park; Batchwise; Detection limit; Estriol; Stream; Urban waste water; Biodegradation; Pollutant behavior; Endocrine disruptor; Metabolism; Continuous process; Gas chromatography; Surface water; Biofilm; Nutrient; Sex steroid hormone; Degradation product; Mass spectrometry
• ISSN: 0043-1354; 1879-2448
• DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2010.10.034

The degradation of the natural estrogen 17β-estradiol and the synthetic steroid hormone 17α-ethinylestradiol, two estrogens already detected in surface waters at low concentration levels, was investigated using continuous flow biofilm reactors and batch experiments. Biofilms in continuous flow experiments were created by natural organisms from river systems of the national park Unteres Odertal, Germany, whereas batch experiments were performed with isolated bacterial strains derived from biofilms. The analytical method, including solid phase extraction, silylation of analytes and measurement with GC/MS, was optimised for the target compounds 17β-estradiol, 17α-ethinylestradiol and the possible metabolites estrone and estriol. The performance characteristics of the analytical method, namely recovery, standard deviations, method detection limits (MDL) and method quantification limits (MQL), were evaluated for accurate interpretation of degradation experiments. Continuous flow biofilm reactors were operated with two different nutrient media under dosage of estradiol and ethinylestradiol. Both estrogens were rapidly degraded within several hours; the metabolite estrone (from estradiol as well as from ethinylestradiol) was detected in significant amounts and was further decomposed. In additional batch experiments using isolated bacterial strains from the natural biofilms to decompose estradiol and ethinylestradiol, different metabolisms of isolates were explored. Five of the 15 isolated bacterial strains tested degraded estradiol and ethinylestradiol with different degradation rates. The results suggest that biofilms from national park Unteres Odertal possess a high capability to aerobically decompose natural and also synthetic estrogens so that these microorganisms could provide enhanced removal of pollutants in municipal water treatment plants.