Biotransformation pathways of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) during acidogenesis and methanogenesis of anaerobic digestion

Author(s)

Carneiro, Rodrigo B. ; Gil-Solsona, Ruben ; Subirats, Jessica ; Restrepo-Montes, Esteban ; Zaiat, Marcelo ; Santos-Neto, Alvaro J. ; Gago-Ferrero, Pablo

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS; v. 478, p. 11-pg., 2024-08-16.

Abstract

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) exhibit varying biodegradability during the acidogenic and methanogenic phases of anaerobic digestion. However, there is limited information regarding the end products generated during these processes. This work investigates the biotransformation products (BTPs) generated in a two-phase (TP) acidogenic-methanogenic (Ac-Mt) bioreactor using advanced suspect and nontarget strategies. Fourteen BTPs were confidently identified from ten parent PPCPs including carbamazepine (CBZ), naproxen (NPX), diclofenac (DCF), ibuprofen (IBU), acetaminophen (ACT), metoprolol (MTP), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), ciprofloxacin (CIP), methylparaben (MPB) and propylparaben (PPB). These BTPs were linked with oxidation reactions such as hydroxylation, demethylation and epoxidation. Their generation was related to organic acid production, since all metabolites were detected during acidogenesis, with some being subsequently consumed during methanogenesis, e.g., aminothiophenol and kynurenic acid. Another group of BTPs showed increased concentrations under methanogenic conditions, e.g., hydroxy-diclofenac and epoxy-carbamazepine. The most PPCPs showed high removal efficiencies (> 90 %) - SMX, CIP, NPX, MTP, ACT, MPB, PPB, while DCF, CBZ and IBU demonstrated higher persistence - DCF (42 %); CBZ (40 %), IBU (47 %). The phase separation of anaerobic digestion provided a deeper understanding of the biotransformation pathways of PPCPs, in addition to enhancing the biodegradability of the most persistent compounds, i.e., DCF, CBZ and IBU. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/06246-7 - Biorefinery concept applied to biological wastewater treatment plants: environmental pollution control coupled with material and energy recovery
• Grantee: Marcelo Zaiat
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 22/09239-5 - Non-target and suspect screening strategies for the investigation of pharmaceuticals and personal care products biotransformation pathways in the anaerobic digestion
• Grantee: Rodrigo Braz Carneiro
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• FAPESP's process: 17/02147-0 - Single drop chromatography and its coupling to mass spectrometry: instrumental strategies, development of materials, automation and analytical applications
• Grantee: Fernando Mauro Lanças
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 19/22532-0 - Anaerobic biotransformation of emerging organic micropollutants in a two-phase (acidogenic-methanogenic) treatment system treating domestic wastewater
• Grantee: Rodrigo Braz Carneiro
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral