Removal of nonylphenol polyethoxylates by adsorption on polyurethane foam and biodegradation using immobilized...

Nonylphenol polyethoxylates (NPEOs) are banned in EU due to their endocrine disrupting properties. In a proof of concept study including continuous reactor lab-scale experiments, polyurethane foam (PUF)-immobilized Trametes versicolor was used to reduce the concentration levels of these compounds in an acidic nutrient solution over an 18-day period. Biodegradation and adsorption were identified as the major removal principles. A 90% removal was achieved by solely biodegradation in an experimental setup in which steady state conditions occurred, including NPEO-saturated glass and PUF surfaces. Biotransformation products containing mono- and di-ethoxylated nonylphenol, nonylphenol (NP1EO, NP2EO, NP) and nonylphenol polyethoxy carboxylates (NPECs) were tentatively identified. The maximum static NPEO adsorption capacity of PUF (determined with Erlenmeyer flask experiment) was calculated to 106 mg g^-1, and the adsorption was described by the Langmuir isotherm equation. The corresponding maximum dynamic adsorption capacity (determined by continuous reactor experiment) was 100 mg g^-1. These findings show that PUF is an excellent adsorbent to NPEOs. Therefore, PUF can either be used as a stand-alone adsorbent to NPEOs or as an immobilizing agent for Trametes versicolor through which a highly efficient biodegradation of these potentially harmful compounds can be achieved. The findings can be of importance in the search for alternative methods to remove NPEOs in process effluents.