Use of sub-micron sized resin particles for removal of endocrine disrupting compounds and pharmaceuticals from water and wastewater
Audrey Murray
,
Banu Örmeci
,
Edward P.C. Lai
DOI:10.1016/j.jes.2016.05.033
Received December 01, 2015,Revised April 19, 2016, Accepted May 06, 2016, Available online July 25, 2016
Volume 29,2017,Pages 256-264
Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) and pharmaceuticals pose a challenge for water and wastewater treatment because they exist at very low concentrations in the presence of substances at much higher concentrations competing for adsorption sites. Sub-micron sized resin particles (approximately 300 nm in diameter) (SMR) were tested to evaluate their potential as a treatment for EDCs including: 17-β estradiol (E2), 17-α ethinylestradiol (EE2), estrone (E1), bisphenol A (BPA), and diethylstilbestrol (DES) as well as 12 pharmaceuticals. SMR were able to remove 98% of spiked E2, 80% of EE2, 87% of BPA, and up to 97% of DES from water. For a 0.5 ppm mixture of E2, EE2, E1, BPA and DES, the minimum removal was 24% (E2) and the maximum was 49% (DES). They were also able to remove the pharmaceuticals from deionized water and wastewater. Overall, SMR are a promising advanced treatment for removal of both EDCs and pharmaceuticals.
