title: Ultrasound assisted destruction of estrogen hormones in aqueous solution: effect of power density, power intensity and reactor configuration.
abstract: There are many reports documenting the adverse effects, such as feminization of fish, of estrogen hormones in the environment. One of the major sources of these compounds is from municipal wastewater effluents. The biological processes at municipal wastewater treatment plants cannot completely remove these compounds. This paper discusses the use of ultrasound to destroy estrogen compounds in water. The study examines the effect of ultrasound power density and power intensity on the destruction of various estrogen compounds which include: 17alpha-estradiol, 17beta-estradiol, estrone, estriol, equilin, 17alpha-dihydroequilin, 17alpha-ethinyl estradiol and norgestrel. These tests were conducted in single component batch and flow through reactors using 0.6, 2 and 4kW ultrasound sources. The sonolysis process produced 80-90% destruction of individual estrogens at initial concentration of 10microg/L within 40-60min of contact time. First order rate constants for the individual compounds under different conditions are presented. The estrogen degradation rates increase with increase in power intensity. However, the energy efficiency of the reactor was higher at lower power density. The 4kW ultrasound reactor was more energy efficient compared to the 0.6 and 2kW sonicators.
authors.affiliation: Villanova Center for the Environment, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Villanova University, 800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085-4263, United States. rominder.suri@villanova.edu
authors.forename: Rominder P S
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Suri
authors.forename: Mohan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nayak
authors.forename: Uthappa
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Devaiah
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Helmig
mesh_terms: D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D045166:Estradiol Congeners; D004967:Estrogens; D007700:Kinetics; D009644:Norgestrel; D012996:Solutions; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
chemical_list: D045166:Estradiol Congeners; D004967:Estrogens; D012996:Solutions; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D009644:Norgestrel