The risks posed by endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) on the developmental, behavioral and reproductive well-being of people and animals cannot be ignored considering the increasing occurrence of these compounds in the environment. The persistent and refractory nature of these pollutants are particularly worrying. This work investigates the conversion of common EDCs including diclofenac sodium and caffeine in an advanced ozone membrane reactor (AOMR). The reactor uses ozone-resistant polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane for ozone distribution, and polyvinylidene fluorine (PVDF) membrane acts as membrane contactor and separator. Carbon-based adsorbents (activated carbon, graphene derivatives) were deposited within the membrane lumen to trap EDCs and their byproducts for more complete EDC degradation by ozone. Mass spectroscopy measurements were used to determine the extent of EDC conversion and degradation, while bioassay kits were employed to monitor to acute toxicity, genotoxicity and estrogenic activity of the treated water. Advanced ozone membrane reactor leads to more complete mineralization of the EDCs for lower bioactivity in the treated water compared to EDCs treated by either ozonation or membrane separation.

Carbon-modified nanofiltration membrane-based advanced oxidation reactor for endocrine disrupting compound removal

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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