Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Influence of operational parameters (sludge retention time and hydraulic residence time) on the removal of estrogens by membrane bioreactor

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

This paper deals with the removal of two natural estrogens, estrone (E1) and 17β-estradiol (E2) and a synthetic one 17α ethinylestradiol (EE2) from wastewater in a laboratory-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR).

Materials and methods

The effects of both solid retention time (SRT) and hydraulic residence time (HRT) were studied using synthetic wastewater in the MBR. At 35, 45, 60, 75, and 95 days, SRT was studied. The HRT was varied in the range of 7–12 h.

Results

The results showed that the increases in HRT and SRT enhanced the biodegradation process after adaptation to microorganisms. At HRT of 12 h, the estrogen removals were close to 100% in the MBR. The highest estrogen removals were obtained at SRT of 60 days. Continuous tests showed a linear relationship between nitrification and estrogen removal rates.

Conclusions

The most biodegradable compound was the E2. The membrane fouling rates increased with the decreased of SRT and HRT. Optimal process conditions in this work was obtained at the SRT and HRT of 60 days and 12 h, respectively, with high efficient of estrogen removal, nitrification efficiencies, as well as a minimum membrane fouling rate.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andersen H, Siegrist H, Halling-Sorensen B, Ternes TA (2003) Fate of estrogens in municipal sewage treatment plant. Environ Sci Technol 37:4021–4026

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baronti C, Curini R, D’Ascenzo G, Di Corcia A, Gentili A, Samperi R (2000) Monitoring natural and synthetic estrogens at activated sludge sewage treatment plants and in a receiving river water. Environ Sci Technol 34:5059–5066

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Braga O, Smythe GA, Schafer AI, Feitz AJ (2005) Steroid estrogens in primary and tertiary wastewater treatment plants. Water Sci Technol 52:273–278

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chae SR, Ahn YT, Kang ST, Shin HS (2006) Mitigated membrane fouling in a vertical submerged membrane bioreactor (VSMBR). J Memb Sci 280(1–2):572–581

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cho J, Song KG, Yun H, Ahn KH, Kim JY, Chung TH (2005) Quantitative analysis of biological effect on membrane fouling in submerged membrane bioreactor. Water Sci Technol 51(6–7):9–18

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clara M, Kreuzinger N, Strenn B, Gans O, Kroiss H (2005) The solids retentions time-a suitable desing parameter to evaluate the capacity of wastewater treatment plants to remove micropollutants. Water Res 39:97–106

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clouzot L, Doumenq P, Roche N, Marrot B (2010) Kinetic parameters for 17a-ethinylestradiol removal by nitrifying activated sludge developed in a membrane bioreactor. Bioresour Technol 101:6425–6431

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Djamila AH, Jacqueline T, Sven L, Thomas W, Thomas M, Daniela T, Andreas J, Wolfgang D, Juliane H (2008) Correlation of EPS content in activated sludge at different sludge retention times with membrane fouling phenomena. Water Res 42:1475–1488

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drews A, Vocks M, Bracklow U, Iversen V, Kraume M (2008) Does fouling in MBRs depend on SMP? Desalination 231(1–3):141–149

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Estrada-Arriaga EB, Mijaylova NP (2010) Calculation methods to perform mass balance of endocrine disrupting chemicals in a submerged membrane bioreactor. 2nd IWA Young Water Professional Conference 2010. Juriquilla, Queretaro, Mexico

  • Fujii K, Kikuchi S, Satomi M, Ushio-Sata N, Morita N (2002) Degradation of 17β-estradiol by a gram-negative bacterium isolated from activated sludge in a sewage treatment plant in Tokyo, Japan. Appl Environ Microbiol 68:2057–2060

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grelier P, Rosenberger S, Tazi-Pain A (2006) Influence of sludge retention time on membrane bioreactor hydraulic performance. Desalination 192(1–3):10–17

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu JY, Chen X, Tao G, Kekred K (2007) Fate of endocrine disrupting compounds in membrane bioreactor systems. Environ Sci Technol 41:4097–4102

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson AC, Sumpter JP (2001) Removal of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in activated sludge treatment works. Environ Sci Technol 35:4697–4703

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson AC, Belfroid B, Di Corcia A (2000) Estimation of steroid estrogens inputs into activated sludge treatment works and observations on their removal from the effluent. Sci Total Environ 256:163–173

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Judd S (2008) The status of membrane bioreactor technology. Trends Biotechnol 26(2):109–116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jürgens MD, Holthaus KIE, Johnson AC, Smith JJL, Hetheridge M, Williams, RJ (2002) The potential for estradiol and ethinylestradiol degradation in English rivers. Environ Toxicol Chem 21(3):480–488

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreuzinger N, Clara M, Strenn B, Kroiss H (2004) Relevance of the sludge retention time (SRT) as design criteria for wastewater treatment plants for the removal of endocrine disruptors and pharmaceuticals from wastewater. Water Sci Technol 50(5):149–156

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Layton AC, Gregory BW, Seward JR, Schultz TW, Sayler GS (2000) Mineralization of steroidal hormones by biosolids in wastewater treatment systems in Tennessee U.S.A. Environ Sci Technol 34:3925–3931

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee J, Lee BC, Ra JS, Cho J, Kim IS, Chang NI, Kim HK, Kim SD (2008) Comparison of the removal efficiency of endocrine disrupting compounds in pilot scale sewage treatment processes. Chemosphere 71:1582–1592

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lesjean B, Gnirrs R, Buisson H, Keller S, Tazi-Pain A, Luck F (2005) Outcome of a 2-year investigation on enhanced biological nutrients removal and trace organics elimination in membrane bioreactor (MBR). Water Sci Technol 52(10–11):453–460

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Masse A, Sperandio M, Cabassud C (2006) Comparison of sludge characteristics and performance of a submerged membrane bioreactor and an activated sludge process at high solids retention time. Water Res 40(12):2405–2415

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ng HY, Tan TW, Ong SL (2006) Membrane fouling of submerged membrane bioreactors: impact of mean cell residence time and the contributing factors. Environ Sci Technol 40(8):2706–2713

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Radjenovic J, Petrovic M, Barceló D (2009) Fate and distribution of pharmaceuticals in wastewater and sewage sludge of the conventional activated sludge (CAS) and advanced membrane bioreactor (MBR) treatment. Water Res 43(3):831–841

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ren YX, Kazunori N, Munehiro N, Chiba N (2007) Effects of bacterial activity on estrogen removal in nitrifying activated sludge. Water Res 41:3089–3096

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodgers GTP, Jobling S, Morris S, Kelly C, Kirby S, Janbakhsh A, Harries JE, Waldock MJ, Sumpter JP, Tyler CR (2000) Long-term temporal changes in the estrogenic composition of treated sewage effluent and its biological effects on fish. Environ Sci Technol 34(8):1521–1528

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberger S, Laabs C, Lesjean B, Gnirss R, Amy G, Jekel M, Schrotter JC (2006) Impact of colloidal and soluble organic material on membrane performance in membrane bioreactors for municipal wastewater treatment. Water Res 40(4):710–720

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Servos MR, Bennie DT, Burnison BK, Jurkovic A, McInnis R, Neheli T (2005) Distribution of estrogens, 17β-estradiol and estrone, in Canadian municipal wastewater treatment plants. Sci Total Environ 336:155–170

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shi J, Fujisawa S, Nakai S, Hosomi M (2004) Biodegradation of natural and synthetic estrogens by nitrifying activated sludge and ammonia-oxidizing bacterium Nitrosomonas europaea. Water Res 38:2323–2330

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Solé M, López de Alda MJ, Castillo M, Porte C, Ladegaard-Pedersen K, Barceló D (2000) Estrogenicity determination in sewage treatment plants and surface waters from the Catalonian area (NE Spain). Environ Sci Technol 34:5076–5083

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Solé M, Porte C, Barceló D (2001) Analysis of the estrogenic activity of sewage treatment works and receiving waters using vitellogenin induction in fish as a biomarker. Trends Analyt Chem 20(9):518–525

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spengler P, Körner W, Metzger JW (2001) Substances with estrogenic activity in effluents of sewage treatment plants in southwestern Germany. 1. Chemical analysis. Environ Toxicol Chem 20(10):2133–2141

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Suarez S, Lema JM, Omil F (2010) Removal of Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) under nitrifying and denitrifying conditions. Water Res 44:3214–3224

    Google Scholar 

  • Sumpter J (1998) Xenoendocrine disrupters-environmental impacts. Toxicol Lett 102–103:337–342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Svenson A, Allard AS, Ek M (2003) Removal of estrogenicity in Swedish municipal sewage treatment plants. Water Res 37:4433–4443

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ternes TA, Herrmann N, Bonerz M, Knacker T, Siegrist H, Joss A (2004) A rapid method to measure the solid–water distribution coefficient (Kd) for pharmaceuticals and musk fragrances in sewage sludge. Water Res 38(19):4075–4084

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thorpe KL, Cummings RI, Hutchinson TH, Scholze M, Brighty G, Sumpter JP, Tyler CR (2003) Relative potencies and combination effects of steroidal estrogens in fish. Environ Sci Technol 37:1142–1149

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Trussell RS, Merlo RP, Hermanowicz SW, Jenkins D (2007) Influence of mixed liquor properties and aeration intensity on membrane fouling in a submerged membrane bioreactor at high mixed liquor suspended solids concentrations. Water Res 41(5):947–958

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vader JS, Gvan GC, Stokman FM, Sperling GM, Jde J, Wed B, Sde GJ, Mvander M, Stokman PGW (2000) Degradation of ethinyil estradiol by nitrifying activated sludge. Chemosphere 41(8):1239–1243

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weiss S, Reemtsma T (2008) Membrane bioreactors for municipal wastewater treatment—a viable option to reduce the amount of polar pollutants discharged into surface waters? Water Res 42(14):3837–3847

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Williams RJ, Johnson AC, Smith JJL, Kanda R (2003) Steroid estrogens profiles along river stretches arising from sewage treatment works discharges. Environ Sci Technol 37(9):1744–1750

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu K, Harper WF Jr, Zhao D (2008) 17α-Ethinylestradiol sorption to activated sludge biomass: thermodynamic properties and reaction mechanisms. Water Res 42:3146–3152

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yi T, Harper WF (2007) The link between nitrification and biotransformation of 17 alphaethinylestradiol. Environ Sci Technol 41(12):4311–4316

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Autonomous University of Mexico, Facultad de Ingeniería, Campus Morelos, Paseo Cuauhnahuac 8532, Col. Progreso, Jiutepec, Morelos, 62550, Mexico

    Edson B. Estrada-Arriaga

  2. Mexican Institute of Water Technology, Paseo Cuauhnahuac 8532, Col. Progreso, Jiutepec, Morelos, 62550, Mexico

    Petia N. Mijaylova

Authors
  1. Edson B. Estrada-Arriaga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Petia N. Mijaylova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Edson B. Estrada-Arriaga.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Henner Hollert

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Estrada-Arriaga, E.B., Mijaylova, P.N. Influence of operational parameters (sludge retention time and hydraulic residence time) on the removal of estrogens by membrane bioreactor. Environ Sci Pollut Res 18, 1121–1128 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0461-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0461-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation