What is the Best Method for Removal of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (EDC) from Wastewater?

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Hello!!

I am looking for the best method that can be used practically for the removal of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC) from water mainly focusing on the estrogen.  

Thank you!!

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15 Answers

  1. We have a major problem with this in the State of Texas, however EDC's are for the most part a taboo subjects as Big Pharma makes a lot of money selling EDC's and progressives have made artificial  Birth Control a litmus test of respectability.  The Corporate right & progressive left have conspired to shut down efforts to identify, let alone address, the impacts of EDCs. Politics trumps reality in present day America.

  2. I am also thinking same. Are there nature-based and biological approaches, particularly the use of biofilms? How cost effective would it be?

  3. Water Res. 2005 Oct;39(16):3991-4003.

    Removal of estrone and 17beta-estradiol from water by adsorption.

    Zhang Y1, Zhou JL.

    Author information

    Abstract

    Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are the focus of current environment concern, as they can cause adverse health effects in an intact organism, or its progeny, subsequent to endocrine function. The paper reports on the removal of estrone (E1) and 17beta-estradiol (E2) from water through the use of various adsorbents including granular activated carbon (GAC), chitin, chitosan, ion exchange resin and a carbonaceous adsorbent prepared from industrial waste. The results show that the kinetics of adsorption were adsorbent and compound-dependent, with equilibration being reached within 2 h for a waste-derived carbonaceous adsorbent to 71 h for an ion-exchange resin for E1, and within 7 h for the waste-derived carbonaceous adsorbent to 125 h for GAC for E2. Of all the adsorbents tested, the carbonaceous adsorbent showed the highest adsorption capacity, with a maximum adsorption constant of 87500 ml/g for E1 and 116000 ml/g for E2. The GAC also had a very high adsorption capacity for the two compounds, with a maximum adsorption constant of 9290 ml/g for E1 and 12200 ml/g for E2. The effects of some fundamental environmental parameters including adsorbent concentration, pH, salinity and the presence of humic acid and surfactant on adsorption were studied. The results show that adsorption capacity of activated carbon was decreased with an increase in adsorbent concentration and by the presence of surfactant and humic acid. The results have demonstrated excellent performance of a waste derived adsorbent in removing E1 and E2 from water, and indicated the potential of converting certain solid waste into useful adsorbents for pollution-control purposes.

  4. I see the usual suspects offered; ozone, hydrogen peroxide, ion and various chemicals etc. however there must be a reckoning balancing price and efficiency ... the new Graphene processes and MoS2! Now we can beat the pants off R.O. With its finicky permeate and tolerance avoidance chlorine(s) and Clogs!!

  5. I see the usual suspects offered; ozone, hydrogen peroxide, ion and various chemicals etc. however there must be a reckoning balancing price and efficiency ... the new Graphene processes and MoS2! Now we can beat the pants off R.O. With its finicky permeate and tolerance avoidance chlorine(s) and Clogs!!

  6. Have you tried treating a stream with Peracetic Acid (PAA)? I would think that due to its high redox potential (just below ozone), it could destroy these compounds (EDC).

  10. Following biological treatment, consider activated carbon, ion exchange with selective resins, or reverse osmosis.  There are innovative technologies under consideration, such as zero-valent iron, AOP, rate-earth metal electrodes for electro-oxidation, persulfate oxidation, and others.  Should be similar to removal of PFAS removal.

  11. Hi Yadav,

    EDCs can be oxidized easily and cleanly with UV/H2O2 advanced oxidation technology (AOP). The Process ability have been proven using bench-, pilot-, and full-scale systems; there are a number of installations treating  water and wastewater in the USA and other countries treating water and wastewater contaminated with EDCs. There are a number of well established companies, such as Trojan Technologies, Wedeco, and others that provide full-scale treatment system for any given application. You should talk these consult with them for your particular need.

    Ali Amiri 

    1 Comment

  13. There is a major problem with hydroxyl radical oxidation processes suggested below. They are extremely inefficient. The OH radicals are indiscriminate so they react with all of the TOC. Suppose you have 20 mg/L (20,000 ug/L)  of TOC and 2 ug/L of endocrine chemical. The TOC is 10,000 times the endocrine to be removed. It consumes a lot of wasted energy and cost. Advanced oxidation processes are usually applied to relatively clean water e.g. after RO treatment, so that there is not as much extraneous TOC to compete.

  14. Dharmveer Yadav, we are a wastewater treatment company based in Cheshire, UK specialising in tertiary treatment. We design and manufacture a process named Nyex which combines adsorption and electrochemical oxidation within one unit. Our Nyex systems fully mineralise contaminants without producing secondary waste such as sludge or dosing any chemicals.

    Take a look at the pharmaceutical page on our website where you can download a case study on a 12-month project we conducted with Anglian Water. This project focused on the removal of pharmaceutical residues, including EDCs such as EE2 (Ethinylestradiol - an estrogen medication which is used widely in birth control pills in combination with progestin). The EE2 in this case was fully removed from the wastewater.

    https://www.arviatechnology.com/industries/pharmaceutical/

    Please get in touch if you have any further questions on how the process works on +44(0)1928 515 329 - Eilish Carson, Marketing Manager

  15. One very effective method is the electrofenton process. Pass DC electricity through iron terminals into the water while dosing in hydrogen peroxide. The iron ions released by the DC will break the H2O2 into two OH ions. The OH ions will then oxidize and break down the endocrine disruptors