Microalgae cultivation on wastewater digestate: β-estradiol and 17α-ethynylestradiol degradation and transformation products identification

Selenastrum capricornutum and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii were tested for possible biodegradation of the hormones β-estradiol (E2) and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) when cultured in anaerobic digester centrate (ADC). Neither ADC nor the hormones had a negative or toxic effect on the microalgae growth but enhanced it. E2 and EE2 biodegradation was evaluated under different culture conditions. After 7 days of treatment, between 88% and 100% of E2 was removed by S. capricornutum. Overall, 42 and 54% of the removal was attributed to biodegradation processes, while the rest of the removal was due to adsorption onto the algae biomass. For EE2, removals between 60 and 95%, depending on the culture conditions, were achieved, with biodegradation accounting for 20–54% of the removal. E2 and EE2 were completely removed in the experiments performed with C. reinhardtii, except for EE2 in the presence of ADC, which decreased to 76%. However, C. reinhardtii presented higher adsorption percentages: 86% and 71% after 7 days for E2 and EE2, respectively. Transformation products (TPs) of E2 and EE2 generated in each treatment were also monitored. Two TPs were tentatively proposed as degradation products of E2 and EE2 by the algae. In addition, the removal of 26 endocrine disruptors and related pollutants present in the centrate was also monitored: bisphenol A was completely removed, whereas tris(2-butoxyethyl)phosphate was only removed in the absence of hormones. •S. capricornutum and C. reinhardtii are able to grow in anaerobic digester centrate.•Transformation products of EDCs with microalgae were studied.•β-Estradiol was almost removed (>90%) in 24 h for both microalgae strains.•17αEthynylestradiol needs a longer period (>7d) to achieve high removal percentages.•2 transformation products directly related to algae degradation were identified.