Fate of 17[Beta]-Estradiol in Anaerobic Lagoon Digesters

The fate of [^sup 14^C]17β-estradiol ([^sup 14^C]E2) was monitored for 42 d in triplicate 10-L anaerobic digesters. Total radioactive residues decreased rapidly in the liquid layer of the digesters and reached a steady-state value of 22 to 26% of the initial dose after 5 d. High-performance liquid c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of environmental quality 2014-03, Vol.43 (2), p.701
Main Authors: Hakk, Heldur, Sikora, Lawrence, Casey, Francis X M, Larsen, Gerald L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anaerobic digestion
Anaerobic lagoons
Carbon dioxide
Chromatography
Endocrine disruptors
Environmental release
Estrogens
Liquid chromatography
Manures
Mass spectrometry
Methane
Mineralization
Sludge
Studies
Testing laboratories
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Summary:The fate of [^sup 14^C]17β-estradiol ([^sup 14^C]E2) was monitored for 42 d in triplicate 10-L anaerobic digesters. Total radioactive residues decreased rapidly in the liquid layer of the digesters and reached a steady-state value of 22 to 26% of the initial dose after 5 d. High-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analyses of the liquid layer of the anaerobic digesters indicated a rapid degradation of E2 to estrone (E1), which readily adsorbed to the sludge layer subsequent to its formation. Estrone was the predominant steroid identified under anaerobic digestion in the liquid layer or sorbed to sludge at 42 d. Methane formation represented 11.1 ± 5.7% of the initial E2 fortification with 0.3 to 0.5% of the starting E2 mineralized to carbon dioxide. Maximum [^sup 14^C]methane production appeared between Days 4 and 7. An estimate of estrogenicity of the final product based on reported estrogen equivalents for E1 and E2 was 2% of the original in active digesters. Anaerobic digestion of swine waste has several management benefits; moreover, this study demonstrated that it reduces the potential of environmental release of estrogens, which are known endocrine disruptors. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:0047-2425
1537-2537