Analysis of the distribution and removal pathways of estrogenicity during wastewater treatment processes

Abstract:

Endocrine disrupter chemicals(EDCs),with the characterization of low concentration,high toxicity,difficulty in removal from water,are receiving more and more attentions all over the world.The current study investigated the distribution of estrogenicity during wastewater treatment processes in Harbin using solid phase extraction/recombinant yeast system and analyzed the removal pathways of estrogenicity according to the results.Results showed that most of estrogenicity was distributed to liquid phase,whereas only(7.7±5.5) % of total estrogenicity was in the solid phase;it was also found that the secondary bio-process played a crucial role in the removal of estrogenicity,where the removal of estrogenicity took place mainly by biodegradation(73.9 %),whereas only 1.2 % was made through residual sludge adsorption.Last but not least,by calculating the removal of estrogenicity,it confirmed that less than 15 % of estrogenicity was removed through volatilization and adsorption,but mainly by biodegradation.Anyway,the estrogenicity of wastewater treatment plant effluent is still high(3.37-6.76 ng·L-1),so that the enhanced biotreatment processes or advanced treatment processes are desired to decrease the risk of estrogenicity.