OzoToxID · Development and implementation of an integrative bioanalytical approach to identify sources of toxicity formed during ozonation of wastewater
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2021-01-01 → 2023-01-31
- EU contribution
- €203,149
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Development and implementation of an integrative bioanalytical approach to identify sources of toxicity formed during ozonation of wastewater
Ozonation is increasingly integrated into wastewater treatment trains to eliminate organic micropollutants, known to induce adverse effects to aquatic organisms. Additionally, ozonation is sometimes applied in water reuse treatment trains for various treatment goals including disinfection and/or micropollutant abatement. While ozonation has been demonstrated to effectively abate micropollutants in wastewater and reduce toxicity for many endpoints, concerns remain regarding the unintended formation of mutagenic (genotoxic) byproducts. Except for some specific known toxic ozonation byproducts, little is known about the formed mutagenic ozonation byproducts. This knowledge is critical to ensure process optimization by meeting treatment goals while minimizing mutagenicity formation. OzoToxID aimed at developing and implementing a novel bioanalytical strategy, based on effect-directed analysis (EDA) combining toxicological and advanced chemical analysis, to investigate the formation of toxic ozonation byproducts during wastewater treatment. An integrative approach combining a mutagenicity assay and advanced chemical analysis as well as mechanistic and kinetic assessments were conducted. Additionally, a non-target screening method for carbonyl compounds, a toxicologically relevant chemical class, has been developed. Overall, the findings from OzoToxID confirmed the systematic formation of mutagenicity during wastewater ozonation. Subsequent sand filtration allowed to either partially or entirely eliminate the mutagenic byproducts. Nitrite concentration, the applied ozone dose, and the Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) type played a critical role in the formation of mutagenicity during ozonation. The presence of nitrite in wastewater resulted in a higher formation of mutagenic byproducts during ozonation. This was also accompanied by the formation of nitrocompounds from organic precursors, in a pathway which presumably involves nitrogen dioxide (NO2) as nitrating agent. A unique fingerprint was attributed to effluent DOM in the formation of mutagenicity, in contrast to other DOM types (e.g., lake water, gray water), for which only negligible or very low mutagenicity was formed during ozonation. Furthermore, a novel non-target screening method for the analysis of carbonyl compounds has been validated and applied for the assessment of carbonyl compound formation during ozonation of different water matrices.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Organic micropollutants (MPs) such as pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, and biocides cause undesired effects in the aquatic environment when present above certain concentrations. Conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are major point sources of entry of MPs into watercourses, leading to disturbances in the ecosystems of receiving water bodies and potentially to a negative impact on the quality of drinking water resources. Several European countries have started upgrading their WWTPs to reduce discharges of MPs into water bodies. Ozonation is one of the two main technologies used to upgrade WWTPs. The abatement of MPs by ozone has been shown to reduce certain toxicities such as endocrine disruption and algal toxicity. However, toxicological studies which investigated mutagenicity and genotoxicty –two endpoints relevant to carcinogenicity– revealed that ozonated wastewater exhibited mutagenic and genotoxic activities, which were not present before ozonation. To date, the nature of mutagenic and genotoxic ozonation transformation products and byproducts (OTPs and OBPs) as well as their precursors has not been elucidated. Owing to the large number of MPs present in wastewater effluents, testing each compound individually is not a feasible option. Consequently, an integrative strategy that prioritizes identification and targets the mutagenic and genotoxic compounds after toxicity assessment is necessary. OzoToxID aims at developing and implementing an integrative bioanalytical strategy based on effect-directed analysis combining mutagenicity and genotoxicity bioassays, fractionation, and cutting-edge high-resolution mass spectrometry chemical analysis to identify mutagenic and genotoxic OTPs/OBPs, determine their precursors, and elucidate their formation pathways. OzoToxID will provide key data that is crucial to determine the feasibility of ozonation when upgrading WWTPs.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- EIDGENOESSISCHE ANSTALT FUER WASSERVERSORGUNG ABWASSERREINIGUNG UND GEWAESSERSCHUTZ · DubendorfCoordinatorSwitzerland
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union