Degradation of estradiol and ethinyl estradiol by activated sludge and by a defined mixed culture.
The aerobic degradation of the natural hormone 17-beta-estradiol (E2) and the synthetic hormone 17-alpha-ethinyl estradiol (EE2) was investigated in batch experiments with activated sludge from a conventional and a membrane sewage treatment plant. E2 was converted to estrone (E1), the well known metabolite, and further completely transformed within 3 days. The turnover rates of E2 did not differ greatly between conventional and membrane activated sludge. EE2 was persistent in both sludges. By several transfers into fresh E2-medium an enrichment culture could be selected that used E2 as growth substrate. Further enrichment and isolation led to a defined mixed culture consisting of two strains, which were identified by a polyphasic approach as Achromobacter xylosoxidans and Ralstonia sp., respectively. The culture used E2 and E1 as growth substrates and transformed estriol (E3) and 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone but not the xenoestrogens bisphenol A, alpha-zearalenol, mestranol or EE2. The turnover rates of E2 were 0.025-0.1 microg h(-1) cfu(-1) and did not depend on the steroid concentration.
Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Health RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52064 Aachen, Germany.
Stefanie
S
Weber
Prisca
P
Leuschner
Peter
P
Kämpfer
Wolfgang
W
Dott
Juliane
J
Hollender
D042441:Achromobacter denitrificans / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism*; D004964:Estriol / Q000378:metabolism; D004970:Estrone / Q000378:metabolism; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism*; D006894:Hydroxyestrones / Q000378:metabolism; D008656:Mestranol / Q000378:metabolism; D010636:Phenols / Q000378:metabolism; D043367:Ralstonia / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology*; D018508:Water Purification; D015029:Zeranol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D004958:Estradiol; D004964:Estriol; D004970:Estrone; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D006894:Hydroxyestrones; D008656:Mestranol; D010636:Phenols; D012722:Sewage; D015029:Zeranol; C029659:zearalenol; C026702:16-hydroxyestrone; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds