Microalgae-based removal of contaminants of emerging concern: Mechanisms in Chlorella vulgaris and mixed algal-bacterial cultures

Franja Prosenc; Justyna Piechocka; David Škufca; Ester Heath; Tjaša Griessler Bulc; Darja Istenič; Gianluigi Buttiglieri

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126284

Microalgae-based removal of contaminants of emerging concern: Mechanisms in Chlorella vulgaris and mixed algal-bacterial cultures

J Hazard Mater. 2021 Sep 15:418:126284. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126284. Epub 2021 Jun 2.

Authors

Franja Prosenc¹, Justyna Piechocka², David Škufca³, Ester Heath⁴, Tjaša Griessler Bulc⁵, Darja Istenič⁶, Gianluigi Buttiglieri⁷

Affiliations

¹ University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Health Sciences, Zdravstvena pot 5, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Electronic address: franja.prosenc@zf.uni-lj.si.
² University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Health Sciences, Zdravstvena pot 5, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; University of Lodz, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Environmental Chemistry, 163 Pomorska Str., 90-236 Łódź, Poland. Electronic address: justyna.piechocka@chemia.uni.lodz.pl.
³ Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; Jožef Stefan Institute, International Postgraduate School, Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Electronic address: david.skufca@ijs.si.
⁴ Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; Jožef Stefan Institute, International Postgraduate School, Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Electronic address: ester.heath@ijs.si.
⁵ University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Health Sciences, Zdravstvena pot 5, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering, Jamova cesta 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Electronic address: tjasa.bulc@zf.uni-lj.si.
⁶ University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Health Sciences, Zdravstvena pot 5, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering, Jamova cesta 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Electronic address: darja.istenic@zf.uni-lj.si.
⁷ Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), C. Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain; Universitat de Girona, Plaça de Sant Domènec. 3, 17004 Girona, Spain. Electronic address: gbuttiglieri@icra.cat.

PMID: 34116274
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126284

Abstract

Incomplete removal of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) has been reported for conventional wastewater treatment technologies. Microalgae-based treatment has recently gained interest thanks to simultaneous removal capacity of organic and inorganic compounds and potentially CECs. In this study, a lab-scale monoculture of Chlorella vulgaris and mixed microalgal-bacterial culture were compared in terms of removal of 28 CECs (bisphenols, 2018 EU Watch List substances, including neonicotinoids, pharmaceuticals, selected transformation products). The removal pathways in light and dark abiotic controls were also studied. Batch photobioreactors were run at hydraulic retention times of 11-12 days and CECs spiked at environmentally relevant concentrations (1-20 μg L^-1). The mixed culture was better at removing bisphenols, compared to C. vulgaris. Bisphenols' log K_ow was significant in removal pathways, where bisphenols with high log K_ow were removed abiotically while bisphenols with low log K_ow were mainly biodegraded. The removal degrees and the pathways of pharmaceuticals and EU Watch List substances were comparable between both cultures, showing no impact of log K_ow for most compounds; however, the removal with C. vulgaris was faster for some. High log K_ow was associated with high removal of estradiol in abiotic controls, showing the importance of adsorption onto biomass and suspended matter.

Keywords: Bisphenols; EU Watch List; Micropollutants; Pharmaceuticals; Wastewater treatment.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Biomass
Chlorella vulgaris*
Microalgae*
Photobioreactors
Wastewater

Substances

Waste Water