Abstract
The goal of this work was to evaluate the performance of the LED irradiated photo-Fenton process on the removal of (i) estrogenic activity and (ii) seven endocrine disruptors (EDs) (4-octylphenol, 4-nonylphenol, bisphenol A, estrone, 17β-estradiol, 17α-ethinylestradiol, and estriol) from real wastewater treatment plant effluent (WWTPE). EDs are a group of contaminants of emerging concern present in WWTPE and which may be recognized by hormone receptors, thus harming animal and human health. The yeast estrogenic screen test (YES) was used to quantify estrogenic activity promoted by EDs in WWTPE samples before and after photo-Fenton treatment. Tests were performed following a factorial design with different iron (20, 40, and 60 mg L−1) and hydrogen peroxide (100, 200, and 300 mg L−1) concentrations in a laboratory scale LED photoreactor (λ = 455 nm, 1.5 L, 1.6 × 10−6 Einstein s−1). EDs were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer. Control experiments consisted of Fenton process, iron only, LED irradiation only, and H2O2 only. Optimum experimental conditions for LED photo-Fenton resulted in 62% removal of estrogenic activity and 59% mineralization. In addition, treated WWTPE was not toxic to Aliivibrio fischeri and more than 80% of EDs were removed during LED irradiated photo-Fenton. Although Fenton process showed similar efficiency to that obtained by LED photo-Fenton, a higher volume of sludge was generated in the dark. Finally, results obtained in this study confirm the applicability of LED irradiated photo-Fenton process for improving the quality of WWTPE as an alternative to solar photo-Fenton in case solar radiation is not available, thus reducing hazards associated to WWTPE reuse or discharge.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the Foundation of Support and Research of the state of Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG), the Coordination of Superior Level Staff Improvement (CAPES), the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), and the National Health Foundation (FUNASA, Process # 25100.015.575/2017-86) for their support during this research.
Funding
This work was supported by the Foundation of Support and Research of the state of Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG), the Coordination of Superior Level Staff Improvement (CAPES), the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), and the National Health Foundation (FUNASA, Process # 25100.015.575/2017–86). The funding sources were not involved in study design, nor the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, nor in the writing of the report, nor in the decision to submit the article for publication.
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Study conception and design, L.G.R. Silva C. and C. C. Amorim; experiments execution, L.G.R. Silva; bioassays execution. L.G.R. Silva, M. C. V. M. Starling, and T.S. Azevedo, S. E. C. Bottrel and R. O. Pereira; endocrine disruptors analysis, L.G.R. Silva, A. L. Sanson and R. J. C. F. Afonso; results interpretation and writing, L.G.R. Silva, E. P. Costa, and M. C. V. M. Starling. All authors contributed to the interpretation of results and manuscript revision. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Silva, L.G.R., Costa, E.P., Starling, M.C.V.M. et al. LED irradiated photo-Fenton for the removal of estrogenic activity and endocrine disruptors from wastewater treatment plant effluent. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 24067–24078 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-12359-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-12359-1