Removal and environmental risk assessment of contaminants of emerging concern from irrigation waters in a semi-closed microalgae photobioreactor

The present study evaluated the efficiency of a semi-closed, tubular, horizontal photobioreactor (PBR) to treat mixture irrigation and rural drainage water, focusing in removal different contaminants emerging concern (CECs), evaluating environmental impact resulting effluent. Target CECs included pharmaceuticals, personal care products flame retardants. Of 13 compounds evaluated, 11 were detected feed water entering PBR, diclofenac (DCF) (1107 ng L?1) N,N-diethyl-toluamide (DEET) (699 those at greatest concentrations. best efficiencies achieved for pharmaceuticals diazepam (94%), lorazepam (LZP) (83%) oxazepam (OXA) (71%), also ibuprofen (IBU) (70%). For rest attenuation was similar that obtained after conventional wastewater treatment, ranging from basically no elimination (carbamazepine (CBZ) tris-(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP)) medium (DCF tributyl (TBP) (50%)). Environmental risk assessment based on hazard quotients (HQs) resulted HQ values < 0.1 (no associated) most trophic levels considered. Values between 1 10 (moderate risk) tonalide (AHTN) (fish) CBZ (invertebrates). sensitive level green algae, whereas fish aquatic plants resilient. Our results suggest microalgae-based treatments could become green, cost-effective alternative treatment regarding efficient these contaminants.