Comparison of the removal efficiency of endocrine disrupting compounds between two lab-scale treatment processes

Abstract

Some newly identified contaminants in our water resources have been recognized as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). It has become a threat to our drinking water. The existing conventional water treatment plants were not designed for these contaminants. The removal efficiency of EDCs from the source water samples using lab-scale water treatment processes, biological contact oxidation (BCO) process and activated carbon (AC), was estimated and compared. The types and concentrations of EDCs and androgenic activities were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and reporter gene assay respectively before and after treatment. The EDCs concentrations were decreased sharply for both methods. But the antiandrogenic activities showed no significant difference between before and after BCO treatment. In conclusion, the EDCs removal efficiency of AC, especially the granular form, might more effective than BCO process.