Occurrence and Fate of Estrone, 17ß-estradiol and 17alpha-ethynylestradiol in STPs for Domestic Wastewater

Estrone (E1), 17ß-estradiol (E2) and 17¿-ethynylestradiol (EE2) discharged from sewage treatment plants (STPs) into surface waters, are seen as a threat effecting aquatic life by its estrogenic character. Therefore, much research is conducted on the fate and removal of these compounds. Since these compounds are present in influents and effluents in the ng/l range, methods for detection deserve special attention. Most important processes that play a role in the removal of estrogens are: adsorption, aerobic degradation, anaerobic degradation, anoxic biodegradation and photolytic degradation. Halflifes tend to vary and are remarkably shorter when low initial concentrations are applied. In general anaerobic conditions result in longer halflifes then aerobic conditions. EE2 shows far most persistence of the compounds, thereby also the estrogenic effect in vitro is about 2¿3-fold higher compared to E2. The three compounds show a higher affinity to sorb to sludge compared to other tested adsorption materials like sediment. Aerobic degradation is far the most efficient in removing these compounds, but adsorption seems to play a significant role in retaining the estrogens inside full-scale STPs. Removal rates in full scale plants depend on the HRT, SRT and loading rates, but lack of information on the exact dependency so far prevents an optimal design able to fully eliminate estrogens from wastewater

Oestrogen removal from biological pretreated wastewater within decentralized sanitation and re-use concepts

Two parallel researches were performed; one focused on the fate of oestrogens in the biological treatment systems within decentralised sanitation and re-use concepts (DESAR), the second related to the development of a suitable specific removal method. A new affinity membrane was developed using antibodies as specific binding sites for hormone removal. It was found that, especially in anaerobic treatment, the core technology in DESAR, the removal is insufficient and therefore an additional separation method is required. The affinity membrane with antibodies was found to be a suitable additional method, though in the current system it only removes one selected compound. Future research will focus on making this method more feasible in practis

Fate of estrogens in biological treatment of concentrated black water

Feminisation of male fish is for a large part due to compounds entering surface waters via wastewater. For domestic wastewater, two natural estrogens, estrone and 17-estradiol and the synthetic estrogen, constituent of the contraceptive pill, are mainly responsible for this effect. These compounds are excreted by humans and in conventional treatment systems sometimes insufficiently removed. A solution can be found in the implementation of innovative sanitation concepts like source separated collection and treatment of black water (toilet), grey water (shower, kitchen, laundry) and rain. As the three compounds will be mainly present in black water, contamination by storm water overflows is completely excluded and the concentrated character of the wastewater allows for more energy efficient treatment systems. Present research showed the first step, anaerobic treatment where energy is as well produced as conserved, is unfavourable to satisfactory remove these compounds and the aerobic post-treatment only partly. As the volume of the stream is remarkably smaller compared to conventional systems (7 liter black water per person per day against 200 liter wastewater per person per day), a necessary tertiary treatment, for which ozonation is promising, will be more compact. Besides, current research shed light on several parameters influencing the degradation of estrogens in biological system

Occurrence and Fate of Estrone, 17ß-estradiol and 17alpha-ethynylestradiol in STPs for Domestic Wastewater

Estrone (E1), 17ß-estradiol (E2) and 17¿-ethynylestradiol (EE2) discharged from sewage treatment plants (STPs) into surface waters, are seen as a threat effecting aquatic life by its estrogenic character. Therefore, much research is conducted on the fate and removal of these compounds. Since these compounds are present in influents and effluents in the ng/l range, methods for detection deserve special attention. Most important processes that play a role in the removal of estrogens are: adsorption, aerobic degradation, anaerobic degradation, anoxic biodegradation and photolytic degradation. Halflifes tend to vary and are remarkably shorter when low initial concentrations are applied. In general anaerobic conditions result in longer halflifes then aerobic conditions. EE2 shows far most persistence of the compounds, thereby also the estrogenic effect in vitro is about 2¿3-fold higher compared to E2. The three compounds show a higher affinity to sorb to sludge compared to other tested adsorption materials like sediment. Aerobic degradation is far the most efficient in removing these compounds, but adsorption seems to play a significant role in retaining the estrogens inside full-scale STPs. Removal rates in full scale plants depend on the HRT, SRT and loading rates, but lack of information on the exact dependency so far prevents an optimal design able to fully eliminate estrogens from wastewater

Anaerobic biodegradation of estrogens-hard to digest

Although many publications are available on the fate of estrone (E1), 17b-estradiol (E2) and 17a-ethynylestradiol (EE2) during aerobic wastewater treatment, little is published on their fate under strictly anaerobic conditions. Present research investigated the digestibility of E1 and EE2, using digested pig manure, granular UASB sludge, UASB-septic tank sludge and activated sludge as inocula. Besides, actual concentrations were measured in a UASB septic tank treating black water. Under anaerobic conditions E1 is reduced to E2 but the extent of this reduction depends on type of inoculum. No significant loss of the sum of E1 and E2 and of EE2 was observed. Adsorption was responsible for a 32¿35% loss of E1 and E2 from the liquid phase in the UASB septic tank and the effluent still contained considerable concentrations of respectively 4.02 mg/l and 18.79 mg/l for E1 and E2 with a large fraction present in conjugated form. No EE2 was detected in the UASB effluen

Anaerobic biodegradation of estrogens : hard to digest

Although many publications are available on the fate of estrone (E1), 17b-estradiol (E2) and 17a-ethynylestradiol (EE2) during aerobic wastewater treatment, little is published on their fate under strictly anaerobic conditions. Present research investigated the digestibility of E1 and EE2, using digested pig manure, granular UASB sludge, UASB-septic tank sludge and activated sludge as inocula. Besides, actual concentrations were measured in a UASB septic tank treating black water. Under anaerobic conditions E1 is reduced to E2 but the extent of this reduction depends on type of inoculum. No significant loss of the sum of E1 and E2 and of EE2 was observed. Adsorption was responsible for a 32¿35% loss of E1 and E2 from the liquid phase in the UASB septic tank and the effluent still contained considerable concentrations of respectively 4.02 mg/l and 18.79 mg/l for E1 and E2 with a large fraction present in conjugated form. No EE2 was detected in the UASB effluen