Removal of 17beta-estradiol and its metabolites from aquaculture wastewater using advanced oxidation processes

淡水鳗鱼产业在全球的产量超过10亿美元，其中95%以上来自水产养殖。虽然鳗鱼养殖业是一个商业利润丰厚的行业，但也有一些限制--雄性鳗鱼成熟时平均体重为150克，而雌性鳗鱼成熟时体重超过500克。此外，鳗鱼直到生命后期才区分它们的性别，并且通常在高密度水产养殖环境中发育成雄性。因此，这些变量制约了当前淡水鳗鱼养殖的经济价值。 为了解决这些问题，研究了天然雌激素（17 β-雌二醇或E2）作为饲料 补充，以增加淡水鳗鱼的增长和雌性化。NovaEel Inc.，一家新斯科舍水产养殖公司开发了一种用于美国鳗鱼的天然雌激素补充饲料。然而，这种喂养方式导致水产养殖废物流中存在雌激素如E2，沿着其代谢产物：雌酮（E1）和雌三醇（E3）。内分泌干扰化合物（EDCs），如E2正在成为人类和水生生物的新问题。因此，必须妥善管理这些废物流，并确保在废水排入城市废物流和环境之前实现雌激素的充分降解。 本研究的目的是确定最有效的，商业上可行的和环境友好的选择，从水产养殖废水中去除雌激素。我们的假设是，UV/TiO 2光电催化将提供一个有效的和可持续的替代更容易获得的处理技术，并将导致最小的雌激素副产物的形成。

The freshwater eel industry is responsible for more than one billion dollars in production globally, and of that production, more than 95% comes from aquaculture. Though a commercially lucrative industry, eel aquaculture does have constraints - male eels mature to an average of 150 g whereas female eels mature to more than 500 g. Additionally, eels do not differentiate their sex until later in life and will generally develop into males in high density aquaculture settings. As a result, these variables constrain the current economic value of freshwater eel culture. In order to combat these issues, natural estrogen (17beta-estradiol or E2) has been studied as a feed supplement to increase growth and feminization in freshwater eels. NovaEel Inc., a Nova Scotian aquaculture company, has developed a natural estrogen supplemented feed for American eels. However, this feed regime results in the presence of estrogens such as E2, along with its metabolites: estrone (E1) and estriol (E3) in aquaculture waste streams. Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) such as E2 are becoming emerging concerns for both human and aquatic life. As such, it is crucial to manage these waste streams properly and ensure that sufficient degradation of estrogens is achieved before wastewater is discharged into municipal waste streams and into the environment. The objective of this research is to determine the most effective, commercially feasible and environmentally friendly option for the removal of estrogens from aquaculture wastewater. Our hypothesis is that UV/TiO2 photoelectrocatalysis will offer an effective and sustainable alternative to more readily available treatment technologies and will result in the formation of minimal estrogenic by-products.