Degradation Of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Research Articles

Novel self-cleaning PVDF/MoO3/ZnO/GO dual layer hollow fiber photocatalytic membrane with excellent photocatalytic performance of EDCs removal and energy storage capability

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have a wide range of detrimental effects on health, particularly on the human endocrine system. Efflux This research study involves the application of - molybdenum trioxide, zinc oxide and graphene oxide (MoO3/ZnO/GO) with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane as photocatalytic dual layer hollow fiber (DLHF) membrane as novel energy storage photocatalytic membrane towards efficient degradation of EDCs under visible light illumination. Ternary MoO3/ZnO/GO was synthesized using hydrothermal method and was embedded on the surface of dual layer hollow fiber membrane by dry-wet spinning method by varying the GO loading at 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5 wt%. The results indicated that the 0.5 PVDF/MoO3/ZnO/GO DLHF photocatalytic membrane exhibited improved wettability, high porosity, good water flux, and exceptional EDCs removal, achieving removal rates of 73.08%, 75.80%, 73.65%, 100%, 95.57%, and 53.50% for 1 mg/L BPA, 1 μg/L BPA, 2 μg/L gabapentin, 1 μg/L diclofenac, 10 μg/L caffeine, and 6 μg/L nonylphenol, respectively after 240 min of light exposure. Besides, energy storage capability achieved 96.07% rejection of 1 mg/L BPA in dark condition while stability and reusability test showed 0.5 PVDF/MoO3/ZnO/GO DLHF achieve 74.02% regeneration efficiency after 3 consecutive cycles. Furthermore, the photocatalytic properties of 0.5 PVDF/MoO3/ZnO/GO DLHF could assure a self-cleaning property and increase its lifetime. The PVDF/MoO3/ZnO/GO DLHF photocatalytic membrane served as a versatile 3-in-1 solution, enhancing photocatalytic degradation and rejection capabilities while also serving as a promising energy storage material with self-cleaning properties for removing EDCs from aquatic environments, regardless with or without the presence of light.

Hydroxyl-rich carbon nitride microspheres with carbon doping for visible-light driven photocatalytic degradation of endocrine disrupting chemicals

Removal of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in water remains a big challenge and it is important to have an additional option to increase the degradation ability of the current water treatment system. In recent years, carbon nitride has demonstrated a potential application for photocatalytic degradation of EDCs in water. However, its performance is limited by restricted visible-light harvesting capacity and ready recombination of photogenerated charge carriers. In this work, hydroxyl-rich carbon nitride microspheres with carbon doping have been successfully synthesized through a simple one-step solvothermal method. The photocatalysts are characterized by XR, FT-IR, solid-state NMR, BET, SEM, UV-Vis DRS, XPS, Mott-Schottky plot, etc. Characterization results reveal that the as-prepared photocatalysts exhibit narrowed bandgap and faster separation of photogenerated charge carriers, allowing effective visible-light harvesting and improved performance in the photocatalytic degradation of EDCs. In addition, the band structures of the photocatalysts and degradation mechanisms of the EDCs are studied and postulated, elucidating that superoxide radicals are the main active species involved in the degradation process of the EDCs.

Degradation of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in wastewater by new thermophilic fungal isolates and their laccases.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-022-03439-1.

Prospecting carbon-based nanomaterials for the treatment and degradation of endocrine-disrupting pollutants

The presence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in water resources has significant negative implications for the environment. Traditional technologies implemented for water treatment are not completely efficient for removing EDCs from water. Therefore, research on sustainable remediation has been mainly directed to novel decontamination approaches including nano-remediation. This emerging technology employs engineered nanomaterials to clean up the environment quickly, efficiently, and sustainably. Thus, nanomaterials have contributed to a wide variety of remediation techniques like adsorption, filtration, coagulation/flocculation, and so on. Among the vast diversity of decontamination technologies catalytic advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) outstand as simple, clean, and efficient alternatives. A vast diversity of catalysts has been developed demonstrating high efficiencies; however, the search for novel catalysts with enhanced performances continues. In this regard, nanomaterials used as nanocatalysts are exhibiting enhanced performances on AOPs due to their special nanostructures and larger specific surface areas. Therefore, in this review we summarize, compare, and discuss the recent advances on nanocatalysts, catalysts doped with metal-based nanomaterials, and catalysts doped with carbon-based nanomaterials on the degradation of EDCs. Finally, further research opportunities are identified and discussed to achieve the real application of nanomaterials to efficiently degrade EDCs from water resources.

Nanomaterial-based catalysts for the degradation of endocrine-disrupting chemicals – A way forward to environmental remediation

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in water sources are receiving global attention due to their toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation. Moreover, conventional wastewater treatment methods are not effective enough for their removal. Therefore, new alternative methods such as advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been presented as suitable alternatives; however, the search for novel catalysts to optimize the degradation performance of EDCs continues. In this regard, nanomaterial-based catalysts are able to efficiently capture visible light, generate and effectively use electron/holes, and inhibit their recombination for achieving enhanced performances. In this review, we summarize and discuss the recent advances in nanocatalysts used for the degradation of EDCs. Recent studies have demonstrated the relevance of nanomaterial-based catalysts for wastewater remediation; however, current challenges must be considered to suggest further research directions oriented to its potential use in real water samples.

Eco-friendly synthesis of nanostructured mesoporous materials from natural source rice husk silica for environmental applications.

Nanostructured mesoporous materials of MCM-41 type were synthesized using a natural, non-toxic, and cheap source of silica from rice husk. Then, this pure silica was modified with several Fe loadings by a wet impregnation method. The chemical and physic properties of MCM-41 solids obtained were similar to those of MCM-41 synthesized from commercial silica by conventional method. Thus, all catalysts exhibited good structural regularity preserving the mesoporosity after the metal incorporation. The performance of the Fe/MCM-RHA composites as photo-Fenton heterogeneous catalysts was evaluated for photocatalytic degradation of different endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as herbicides (atrazine), and compounds derived from the plastic industry (bisphenol A) and the pharmaceutical industry (acetaminophen). The major photo-catalytic efficiency obtained (Fe/MCM-RHA(2.5)) is consistent with the highest presence of iron species, which are finely dispersed and stabilized on the silica structure, the isolated Fe3+ ions being the accessible and active sites for the reaction. Finally, a cheaper solid arising from the valorization of residual biomass and with excellent photocatalytic performance for the degradation of EDCs (above 99%, 75%, and 60% for BPA, ATZ, and ACE respectively, in a reaction time of 240 min) was obtained.

Complete degradation of bisphenol A and nonylphenol by a composite of biogenic manganese oxides and Escherichia coli cells with surface-displayed multicopper oxidase CotA

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are a large group of environmental toxicants that pose serious risks to public health. In this study, we report a new method for the complete degradation of EDCs using a dual oxidation-action composite of biogenic manganese oxides and engineered Escherichia coli cells with surface-expressed multicopper oxidase CotA. The cotA gene from a Mn2+-oxidizing bacterium was constructed as a fusion gene “inaQ-N/cotA” with an anchoring motif inaQ-N from Pseudomonas syringae and was expressed in E. coli cells to display catalytic CotA on the cell surface. Under prolonged Mn2+-enriched culturing conditions, the engineered cells were capable of forming microspherical aggregated composites that were mainly composed of ramsdellite (MnO2). The ability of the composite to degrade two EDCs, bisphenol A (BPA) and nonylphenol (NP), was investigated. GC–MS assays identified 7 and 10 degraded intermediates using the 13C isotope from 13C-labeled BPA and 13C-labeled NP, respectively. The appearance of 13CO2 from both reaction mixtures revealed mineralization pathways of BPA and NP by this composite. Bioassays using Caenorhabditis elegans as an indicator organism demonstrated that the estrogenic activity of BPA and NP was eliminated by these degradation processes. The reaction of the composite proceeded at an acidic pH and room temperature. A consecutive three-round treatment process showed comparable levels of degradation by the composite in repeated reactions and showed that the activity could be easily recovered. Moreover, the superoxide radical levels of BPA-degradation and NP-degradation were monitored during the 24 h reaction time, and possible BPA-degradation and NP-degradation pathways by the composite were proposed.

Occurrence, removal, and fate of progestogens, androgens, estrogens, and phenols in six sewage treatment plants around Dianchi Lake in China.

The occurrence and behavior of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in sewage treatment plants (STPs), especially estrogens and phenols, have been closely concerned in previous studies. However, the systematical researches about progestogens and androgens were scarce in STPs adopting different treatment technologies. This work investigated the occurrence, removal, and fate of one progestogen, three androgens, four estrogens, and six phenols in six STPs around Dianchi Lake in China, where the influents, effluents of primary treatment, secondary treatment, and advanced treatment, as well as excess sludge samples, were analyzed. All of the above EDCs were detected out in influents of the six STPs. Bisphenol A, nonylphenol-mono-ethoxylate, and nonylphenol-diethoxylate were the dominant EDCs detected in those influent samples with the concentrations that varied from 637.6 to 1,684.0 ng/L, 633.8 to 1,540.0 ng/L, and 648.7 to 2,246.0 ng/L, respectively; E1 and dihydrotestosterone were the major steroids with the mean concentration of 126.8 and 277.4 ng/L. For effluents and sludges, phenols showed higher concentration (366.8-1,233.0 ng/L and 1,478.1-6,948.9 ng/g dry weight (dw)) and detection rate (100 %). The total removal rates were more than 80 % for most compounds in wastewater treatment processes, and high removal efficiency (86-100 %) was found for androgens and progestogens compared with estrogens (75-92 %) and phenols (62-85 %). The secondary treatment processes play significant roles on degrading EDCs, whereas the primary sedimentation has little effects. The treatment capacity of anoxic-anaerobic-anoxic membrane bioreactor and anaerobic/anoxic/oxic technologies was superior to the conventional oxidation ditch in the degradation of EDCs. The advanced treatment process, two units of filter (D-type or V-type), and ultraviolet disinfection were adopted and presented effective to remove these compounds. According to fate analysis, it was obvious that biological degradation was the main pathway on the removal of EDCs in STPs compared with adsorption. Risk quotients were calculated to assess ecological risks of those EDCs. Risk quotients of 54 and 61 % were more than 1 in effluents and sludges, respectively, showing potential hazard of effluents and sludges to the environment.

Degradation of endocrine-disrupting chemicals during activated sludge reduction by ozone

Ozonation has been considered to be an effective means for the reduction of excess sludge in recent years. However, it remains largely unknown whether hydrophobic organic micro-pollutants, which are originally adsorbed on activated sludge, will be released into wastewater upon ozonation because of sludge solubilization. This study investigated the degradation efficiencies of several typical endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) during sludge ozonation, including estrone (E1), estriol (E3), 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2), bisphenol A (BPA), and 4-nonylphenol (NP). Results indicate that the EDCs present in activated sludge could be effectively removed by O3 even though the apparent rate constants in sludge were 3–4 orders of magnitude lower than those in water. However, the applied O3 dose should be prudently controlled because a low dose (e.g., 29mgO3g−1SS) may lead to an increase of BPA and NP concentrations in the liquid phase of activated sludge. Furthermore, H2O2 addition or pH adjustment could improve the removal of most studied EDCs, but exert a negative effect on the more hydrophobic and refractory compound, NP.

Enhanced expression of laccase during the degradation of endocrine disrupting chemicals in Trametes versicolor

A putative laccase cDNA from a white-rot basidiomycete, Trametes versicolor, that consisted of 1,769 nucleotides was cloned using the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE)-PCR method. The deduced amino acid sequence had 4 putative copper binding regions, which are common to fungal laccases. In addition, the sequence was 57-97% homologous to sequences of other T. versicolor laccases. Additionally, the expression of laccase and manganese peroxidase in this fungus were both greatly increased under degrading conditions for bisphenol A, nonylphenol and two phthalic esters (benzylbutylphthalate and diethylphthalate), all of which are reportedly endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Furthermore, the estrogenic activities of the EDCs also decreased rapidly during incubation when examined in a two-hybrid yeast system. Finally, kojic acid inhibited the removal of estrogenic activities generated by bisphenol A and nonylphenol, which confirmed that laccase was involved in the degradation of EDCs in T. versicolor.

A novel hybrid system for the removal of endocrine disrupting chemicals: Nanofiltration and homogeneous catalytic oxidation

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have received substantial attention over the past decade because of the adverse effects of these chemicals on human health. In the present study, a novel hybrid system combining nanofiltration (NF) with homogeneous catalytic oxidation was developed for the effective degradation of EDCs in sources of drinking water. Bisphenol-A (BPA) was chosen as a model EDC and iron(III)–tetrasulfophthalocyanine (Fe(III)–TsPc) was used as a homogeneous metal catalyst to degrade BPA in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. In batch tests, it was confirmed that monomeric Fe(III)–TsPc was generated under weakly acidic conditions (pH < 4.5) and possessed remarkable catalytic activity—more than 90% of BPA was decomposed within 3 min at pH 4.5. Also, based on GC/MS and LC/MS, compounds such as p-benzoquinone, 4-isopropenyl phenol, BPA- o-quinone, and 4-hydroxyphenyl-2-propanol were identified as reaction intermediates and/or by-products of BPA oxidation, which could further be converted to low molecular weight organic acids. The NF-hybrid system showed higher removal efficiency of BPA than the NF-only system (95% vs. 72%) because BPA in the retentate was continuously decomposed by catalytic oxidation. Permeate flux was slightly lower, but ion rejection was higher, in the NF-hybrid system than in the NF-only system due to precipitation of Fe(III)–TsPc on the membrane surface in the NF-hybrid system.

UV/H2O2 degradation of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in water evaluated via toxicity assays

Due to rising concern regarding the presence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in surface water and groundwater throughout the United States, Asia and Europe, treatment of these chemicals in drinking water and wastewater to protect human health and the environment is an area of great interest. Many conventional treatment schemes are relatively ineffective in removing EDCs from water and wastewater. This is concerning because these chemicals are biologically active at very low concentrations and effects of mixtures are relatively unknown. 17-alpha-oestradiol (E2) and 17-beta-ethinyl-oestradiol (EE2), suspected EDCs, were degraded significantly by the UV/H2O2 AOP. The UV/H2O2 processes using either low or medium pressure lamps were degraded EDCs by between 80 and 99.3% at a 15 ppm H2O2 concentration and a UV dose of 1,000 mJ/cm2. Significantly greater removal was noted when the removal was based on total oestrogenic activity using a yeast oestrogen screen (YES) assay. These data indicated that a dose of less than 200 mJ/cm2 completely removed oestrogenic activity in lab water. Values for natural waters were slightly higher. A steady state model was developed to determine EDC destruction efficiency in waters of differing quality. The model effectively predicted destruction in water, where concentrations of all scavenging species were known. Based on these results it was concluded than complete destruction of oestrogenic activity was possible under practical advanced oxidation conditions for a variety of water qualities.