title: Effect of water composition on TiO2 photocatalytic removal of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) and estrogenic activity from secondary effluent.
abstract: The effect of inorganic ions and dissolved organic matter (DOM) on the TiO(2) photocatalytic removal of estrogenic activity from secondary effluents of municipal wastewater treatment plants was investigated. The presence of HPO(4)(2-), NH(4)(+), and HCO(3)(-) resulted in a significantly negative impact on the photocatalytic removal of estrogenic activity from synthetic water due to their strong adsorption on the surface of TiO(2). However, only a weak impact was noted during photocatalytic removal of estrogenic activity from secondary effluent with these ions added, since the presence of DOM in real wastewater played a more important role in inhibiting photocatalytic removal of estrogenic activity than inorganic ions. By investigating the effect of different DOM fractions on photocatalytic removal of estrogenic activity, polar compounds (PC) were found to cause a temporary increase in estrogenic activity during TiO(2) photocatalysis. Fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular weight (MW) analysis on secondary effluent spiked with PC during TiO(2) photocatalysis suggest that large MW organic matter (>4.5kDa) in secondary effluent, such as humic/fulvic acid, not only could play an important role in inhibiting photocatalytic removal of estrogenic activity but also is responsible for the temporary increase in estrogenic activity during the same process.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China.
authors.forename: Wenlong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yaling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D001578:Benzopyrans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D002384:Catalysis; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D004967:Estrogens / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D006812:Humic Substances; D010782:Photolysis; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D001578:Benzopyrans; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004967:Estrogens; D006812:Humic Substances; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium; C005023:fulvic acid