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.