Removal of selected emerging contaminants from water and wastewater using polymer coated silica adsorbent

摘要

The occurrence of emerging contaminants (ECs) has become a serious issue worldwide. The detection of such contaminants in the effluent samples of conventional wastewater treatment plants and the ability of these contaminants to pose potential threats to the environment at very low concentrations has led to a need for more efficient treatment technologies. In this research, β-cyclodextrin (BCD) coated silica hybrid adsorbent was used for the removal of steroid hormones, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and bisphenol-A (BPA). The adsorbent showed more than 95% removal of 17β-estradiol (E2) and PFOA, and upto 90% removal of BPA in Milli-Q (MQ) water. Further experiments done with a mixture of 12 steroid hormones showed successful removal of all ECs with the adsorbent in MQ water. To represent the real world scenario, the performance of the adsorbent was evaluated for the removal of selected ECs in wastewater at environmentally relevant concentrations. The adsorbent showed successful removal of E2, BPA, and PFOA and PFOS from municipal wastewater secondary effluent. A sustainable way of regenerating the adsorbent was identified by using ozone as regenerating agent, which successfully regenerated the adsorbent over seven successive cycles.