| "In order to improve the treatment efficiency of estrogens in WWTPs, elucidation of fate of the estrogen is necessary. In this study, clarification of the fates of estrogenic compounds and estrogenic activity in a wastewater plant was attempted and estrogenicity identification approach using two-step column chromatography was applied to WWTPs samples. From the results, it seemed that estrogenic activity circulated between biological and final sedimentation processes with activated sludge, though the activity was rarely removed by biological treatment. The removal efficiency of estrogenic activity was estimated as -95 % and 54 % for winter and summer surveys, respectively. The results of the column chromatography, which was coupled with bioassay and conducted for in fluent, return sludge and effluent, suggested that E1 and E2 were the chemicals predominantly contributing to the estrogenic activity in the samples. The results of instrumental analysis also supported this conclusion." |
