Removal of BPA and NPnEOs from Secondary Effluents of Municipal WWTPs by Means of Ozonation

Abstract

Removal potential of many EDCs by conventional WWTPs is recognized. Nevertheless, in order to reach very low concentrations, further treatment (e.g., chemical oxidation) might be required. In this work, two estrogen-like substances were considered: nonylphenol (NP) (and its parent compounds) and bisphenol A (BPA). The experimental work was conducted at Verona (Northern Italy) WWTP (370,000 p.e.): the effluent was submitted to ozonation in a pilot scale plant. Beside chemical and microbiological analyses, estrogenic activity measurements were also carried out by means of breast cancer MCF-7 cells transfected with the luminescence luciferase gene. Economic feasibility of tertiary ozonation is finally discussed.

Keywords:

• Ozone
• Costs
• Endocrine Disrupters
• Kinetics
• Municipal Wastewater
• Nonylphenol
• Bisphenol A

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was partly conducted within Vigoni Project (2006/2007) funded by Italian and German Governments. Authors thank Acque Veronesi s.c.a.r.l. for supporting experimental activities and SIAD S.p.A. for supplying chemical oxidation pilot plant. Authors are grateful to Silvia Avesani, Davide Pensieri and Valentina Salogni for their fundamental support during experimental activity carried out within their Degree Thesis.

This paper was presented at ARTE'09, First International Workshop on the Application of Redox Technologies in the Environment, 14–15 September 2009, Istanbul (www.arte2009.itu.edu.tr)