title: Comparative studies of aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation of methylparaben and propylparaben in activated sludge.
abstract: The biodegradability of two typical parabens (methylparaben and propylparaben) in activated sludge, at initial concentrations of 1mgL-1or 10mgL-1, was investigated under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The results showed that microorganisms played a key role in degradation of parabens in WWTPs, especially in aerobic systems. The half-lives of methylparaben and propylparaben under aerobic conditions have been estimated to range between 15.8 and 19.8min, and benzoic acid was found to be one of the major biodegradation products. The calculated biodegradation efficiency of methylparaben and propylparaben in activated sludge under aerobic conditions was significantly higher than that observed under anaerobic (nitrate, sulfate, and Fe (III) reducing) conditions, as methylparaben and propylparaben exhibited comparatively higher persistence in anaerobic systems, with half-lives ≥43.3h and ≥8.6h, respectively. Overall, the results of this study imply that the majority of these parabens can be eliminated by aerobic biodegradation during conventional wastewater treatment processes, whereas minor removal is possible in anaerobic systems if an insufficient hydraulic retention time was maintained.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University, Hefei 230061, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China. Electronic address: yangwu@iue.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University, Hefei 230061, China.
authors.forename: Cheng-Xun
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan. Electronic address: cpyu@iue.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Chang-Ping
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D019817:Benzoic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001711:Biotransformation; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010226:Parabens / Q000737:chemistry; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry*; D013431:Sulfates; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
chemical_list: D010226:Parabens; D012722:Sewage; D013431:Sulfates; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D019817:Benzoic Acid; C015358:methylparaben; C006068:propylparaben
keywords: Activated Sludge; Benzoic acid; Biodegradation; Methylparaben; Propylparaben