Influence of manganese and ammonium oxidation on the removal of 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2).
Flow-through reactors with manganese oxides were examined for their capacity to remove 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2) at microg 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 microg EE2 L(-1) d(-1) and from a B(V) of 40 microg 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 microg 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.
Forrez
Ilse
I
Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
Carballa
Marta
M
Noppe
Herlinde
H
De Brabander
Hubert
H
Boon
Nico
N
Verstraete
Willy
W
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental / Q000187:drug effects; D019149:Bioreactors; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008345:Manganese / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction / Q000187:drug effects; D016958:Pseudomonas putida / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid
D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D008345:Manganese; D009584:Nitrogen