Removal and fate of estrogens in an anaerobic-anoxic-oxic activated sludge system

Laboratory-scale experiments were conducted to investigate the removal and fate of estrogens 17 beta-estradiol (E2) and 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2) in an anaerobic-anoxic-oxic (AAO) activated sludge system. Estrogen concentrations in the aqueous and solid phases in each reactor of AAO system were analyzed separately. E2 was not detected in the final effluent. The anaerobic, anoxic and oxic reactors accounted for 71%, 7% and 22% of the overall E2 removal, respectively. The overall EE2 removal efficiency was about 80%, and the anaerobic, anoxic and oxic reactors were responsible for 44%, 8% and 48% of the overall EE2 removal, respectively. In anaerobic unit, sorption was the dominant mechanism for the removal of E2 and EE2. While E2 was degraded in all the three units of the AAO system, EE2 was only degraded in the anoxic and aerobic units. Biodegradation is important for the fate of E2 compared to sorption. Of the total influent E2 in the AAO system, 99.99% was biodegraded and 0.01% remained in the waste sludge. Nevertheless, both sorption and biodegradation play important roles in the removal of EE2. Of the total influent EE2, 79.1% was degraded by activated sludge, 19.9% was discharged in the effluent and 1% remained in the waste sludge.