title: Microalgae cultivation on wastewater digestate: β-estradiol and 17α-ethynylestradiol degradation and transformation products identification.
abstract: Selenastrum capricornutum and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii were tested for possible biodegradation of the hormones β-estradiol (E2) and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) when cultured in anaerobic digester centrate (ADC). Neither ADC nor the hormones had a negative or toxic effect on the microalgae growth but enhanced it. E2 and EE2 biodegradation was evaluated under different culture conditions. After 7 days of treatment, between 88% and 100% of E2 was removed by S. capricornutum. Overall, 42 and 54% of the removal was attributed to biodegradation processes, while the rest of the removal was due to adsorption onto the algae biomass. For EE2, removals between 60 and 95%, depending on the culture conditions, were achieved, with biodegradation accounting for 20-54% of the removal. E2 and EE2 were completely removed in the experiments performed with C. reinhardtii, except for EE2 in the presence of ADC, which decreased to 76%. However, C. reinhardtii presented higher adsorption percentages: 86% and 71% after 7 days for E2 and EE2, respectively. Transformation products (TPs) of E2 and EE2 generated in each treatment were also monitored. Two TPs were tentatively proposed as degradation products of E2 and EE2 by the algae. In addition, the removal of 26 endocrine disruptors and related pollutants present in the centrate was also monitored: bisphenol A was completely removed, whereas tris(2-butoxyethyl)phosphate was only removed in the absence of hormones.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Engineering Department, Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hom-Diaz
authors.affiliation: Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Scientific and Technological Park of the University of Girona, C/Emili Grahit, 101-E17003 Girona, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Llorca
authors.affiliation: Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Scientific and Technological Park of the University of Girona, C/Emili Grahit, 101-E17003 Girona, Spain.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Mozaz
authors.affiliation: Chemical Engineering Department, Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vicent
authors.affiliation: Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Scientific and Technological Park of the University of Girona, C/Emili Grahit, 101-E17003 Girona, Spain; Water and Soil Quality Research Group, Department of Environmental Chemistry (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Damià
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barceló
authors.affiliation: Chemical Engineering Department, Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: paqui.blanquez@uab.cat.
authors.forename: Paqui
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blánquez
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D058086:Microalgae / Q000378:metabolism*; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004958:Estradiol; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Anaerobic digestion centrate; Chlamydomonas reinhardtii; Hormones; Selenastrum capricornutum; Transformation products