Combined Process of Ozone Oxidation and Ultrafiltration as an Effective Treatment Technology for the Removal of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals

Abstract

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the secondary effluent discharged from wastewater treatment plants are of great concern when water reuse is intended. The combined process of ozone (O 3 ) and ultrafiltration (UF) is a promising EDC removal method. The removal efficiency of five EDCs using O 3 , UF and their combination were investigated and compared. The five EDCs were estrone, 17β-estradiol, estriol, 17α-ethynyl estradiol and bisphenol A, which are typically present in secondary effluent. Results showed that organic matters in secondary effluent became easier to be removed by the combined process, with ultraviolet absorbance reduction enhanced by 11%-18% or 24%-26% compared to the UF or O 3 alone. The removal efficiency of EDC concentration, estrogenicity and acute ecotoxicity by the combined process was 17%-29% or 54%-92%, 19% or 73%, 40% or 60% greater, respectively, than that of the O 3 or UF alone. Particularly, when EDCs were treated by the combination of O 3 and UF, about 100% EDC removal efficiency was achieved. Overall, the combined application of O 3 and UF offers an effective approach to control the concentration and toxicity of EDCs in secondary effluent.

Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds: An Overview on Their Occurrence in the Aquatic Environment and Human Exposure

“…Ultrafiltration removal efficiency can be improved by combining it with other technologies like advanced oxidation processes, chlorination, and ozonation. The ultrafiltration-ozonation hybrid system employed by Si et al [135] was able to remove up to 99% of all endocrine disruptors under study (17β-estradiol, estriol, 17α-ethynylestradiol, and bisphenol A), compared to 46% and 70% reached using only ultrafiltration and ozonation, respectively. For the same reasons, membrane bioreactor is usually combined with nanofiltration or reverse osmosis process, thus improving the removal rate of contaminants such as bisphenol A, alkylphenols and carbamazepine [136,137].…”

Dynamic Modelling, Process Control, and Monitoring of Selected Biological and Advanced Oxidation Processes for Wastewater Treatment: A Review of Recent Developments

“…Therefore, the percentage of organic removal in some AOP-based treatment reactions can be determined by comparing the UV 254 absorbance at reactor effluent with its amount at reactor influent. Depending on the organic compounds, process, and operating conditions, ∆UVA 254 correlates to the amount of organic removal through a linear [158][159][160][161][162][163][164][165][166][167], S-shaped [168][169][170][171], logarithmic [172], exponential [172], linear biphasic [159,161,173], or other mathematic relation that need to be developed experimentally. In addition, the optimal UV absorbance for some organic compounds occurs at wavelengths other than 254 nm.…”

Contemporary Techniques for Remediating Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds in Various Water Sources: Advances in Treatment Methods and Their Limitations

“…Similarly, Si et al [ 193 ] investigated the performance of combined ozonation and UF processes for the elimination of EDC pollutants in secondary sewage. The findings of the investigation showed that the combination of ozonation (O 3 ) and UF showed an excellent result, with almost 100% EDCs removal.…”