Removal of Endocrine Disruptor Bisphenol A from Water
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bath
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a compound used primarily in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. The
compound has been confirmed as an endocrine disruptor chemical & is an environmental pollutant; ubiquitous
across aquatic environments.
Whilst many health risks from acute or chronic exposure remain unknown, BPA has been shown to cause hormone
imbalances and reduce or prevent fertility in humans & several aquatic species. Recently, an EU ban on BPA
based thermal paper (used for printed cashiers' receipts) was announced and will be enforced from 2020. As BPA is
on the candidate list for 'substances of very high concern', it is expected that further legislation limiting its use will be
introduced in the near future.
Development of sustainable methods to control BPA concentrations, across aquatic environments, is important to
maintain the sustainability of eco-systems, and for control of water quality. This will continue to be important for the
foreseeable future as BPA leeches out of waste in landfill (where ground water management is not tightly controlled)
and from plastic pollution in oceans and freshwater.
Current BPA removal processes are predominantly based on freshwater treatment and are very energy intensive,
cost intensive, and/or demonstrate low removal efficiencies.
This project aims to create a floating device which can remove BPA from water, at low energy cost, and without the
need for disruption to existing water processing infrastructure. Based on previous results, we believe it is possible to
develop, test, and optimise a sustainable BPA removal device within the scope of a PhD project. Within this project,
there is also the possibility to adjust the process to remove toxic analogues of BPA - which are often used as
replacements in 'BPA free' plastics.
Potential applications for this device include treatment of sea water in areas of concentrated plastic waste (such as
ocean gyres), at coastal waste water discharge points, and freshwa ter treatment in reservoirs.
This research project relies on collaboration with Electronic and Electrical Engineering for device construction,
Chemical Engineering for bio-degradation analysis, and works on different areas within Chemistry (electrochemistry
and analytical methods). The work will fall into four key areas; electrochemical optimisation, development of
analytical methods, processes for the degradation of polymerised BPA, and construction of an operational BPA
removal device.
Electrochemical Process:
This will involve testing the electrochemical conditions and electrode materials used in the removal process.
Optimisation of the removal process will also be necessary for different sample conditions; BPA concentration,
presence of radical scavengers, 'real water' samples, and samples from different environments.
Analytical Methods:
Analytical methods will be important for accurate quantification of BPA levels and removal efficiencies. Additional
methods for analysis will be needed to determine by-product formation, for polymer characterization, and toxicity/
estrogenic activity assessment. Significant analytical method development will be required to assess levels of
alternative pollutants.
Degradation:
Following removal of BPA by polymer formation, methods for degrading the polymer can be considered to regenerate
the electrode material. These methods could include UV treatment, electrochemical reductive desorption, or
biological degradation processes using bacterial colonies within microbial fuel cells.
Device Construction:
Removal of BPA from the environment will require functional floating devices which can carry out the electrochemical
process. Design, construction, testing, and optimisation of these devices will be part of the project once successful
removal processes are established. The system will be designed to include a renewable power source, to increase
the sustainability and self-sufficiency of the process.
compound has been confirmed as an endocrine disruptor chemical & is an environmental pollutant; ubiquitous
across aquatic environments.
Whilst many health risks from acute or chronic exposure remain unknown, BPA has been shown to cause hormone
imbalances and reduce or prevent fertility in humans & several aquatic species. Recently, an EU ban on BPA
based thermal paper (used for printed cashiers' receipts) was announced and will be enforced from 2020. As BPA is
on the candidate list for 'substances of very high concern', it is expected that further legislation limiting its use will be
introduced in the near future.
Development of sustainable methods to control BPA concentrations, across aquatic environments, is important to
maintain the sustainability of eco-systems, and for control of water quality. This will continue to be important for the
foreseeable future as BPA leeches out of waste in landfill (where ground water management is not tightly controlled)
and from plastic pollution in oceans and freshwater.
Current BPA removal processes are predominantly based on freshwater treatment and are very energy intensive,
cost intensive, and/or demonstrate low removal efficiencies.
This project aims to create a floating device which can remove BPA from water, at low energy cost, and without the
need for disruption to existing water processing infrastructure. Based on previous results, we believe it is possible to
develop, test, and optimise a sustainable BPA removal device within the scope of a PhD project. Within this project,
there is also the possibility to adjust the process to remove toxic analogues of BPA - which are often used as
replacements in 'BPA free' plastics.
Potential applications for this device include treatment of sea water in areas of concentrated plastic waste (such as
ocean gyres), at coastal waste water discharge points, and freshwa ter treatment in reservoirs.
This research project relies on collaboration with Electronic and Electrical Engineering for device construction,
Chemical Engineering for bio-degradation analysis, and works on different areas within Chemistry (electrochemistry
and analytical methods). The work will fall into four key areas; electrochemical optimisation, development of
analytical methods, processes for the degradation of polymerised BPA, and construction of an operational BPA
removal device.
Electrochemical Process:
This will involve testing the electrochemical conditions and electrode materials used in the removal process.
Optimisation of the removal process will also be necessary for different sample conditions; BPA concentration,
presence of radical scavengers, 'real water' samples, and samples from different environments.
Analytical Methods:
Analytical methods will be important for accurate quantification of BPA levels and removal efficiencies. Additional
methods for analysis will be needed to determine by-product formation, for polymer characterization, and toxicity/
estrogenic activity assessment. Significant analytical method development will be required to assess levels of
alternative pollutants.
Degradation:
Following removal of BPA by polymer formation, methods for degrading the polymer can be considered to regenerate
the electrode material. These methods could include UV treatment, electrochemical reductive desorption, or
biological degradation processes using bacterial colonies within microbial fuel cells.
Device Construction:
Removal of BPA from the environment will require functional floating devices which can carry out the electrochemical
process. Design, construction, testing, and optimisation of these devices will be part of the project once successful
removal processes are established. The system will be designed to include a renewable power source, to increase
the sustainability and self-sufficiency of the process.
Planned Impact
The Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Sustainable Chemical Technologies (SCT) at the University of Bath will place fundamental concepts of sustainability at the core of a broad spectrum of research and training at the interface of chemical science and engineering. It will train over 60 PhD students in 5 cohorts within four themes (Energy and Water, Renewable Resources and Biotechnology, Processes and Manufacturing and Healthcare Technologies) and its activities and graduates will have potential economic, environmental and social impact across a wide range of beneficiaries from academia, public sector and government, to industry, schools and the general public.
The primary impact of the CDT will be in providing a pool of highly skilled and talented graduates as tomorrow's leaders in industry, academia, and policy-making, who are committed to all aspects of sustainability. The economic need for such graduates is well-established and CDT graduates will enhance the economic competitiveness of the UK chemistry-using sector, which accounts for 6m jobs (RSC 2010), contributing £25b to the UK economy in 2010 (RSC 2013). The Industrial Biotechnology (IB) Innovation and Growth Team (2009) estimated the value of the IB market in 2025 between £4b and £12b, and CIKTN (BIS) found that "chemistry, chemical engineering and biology taken together underpin some £800b of activity in the UK economy".
UK industry will also gain through collaborative research and training proposed in the Centre. At this stage, the CDT has 24 partners including companies from across the chemistry- and biotechnology-using sectors. As well as direct involvement in collaborative CDT projects, the Centre will provide an excellent mechanism to engage with industrial and manufacturing partners via the industrial forum and the Summer Showcase, providing many opportunities to address economic, environmental and societal challenges, thereby achieving significant economic and environmental impact.
Many of the issues and topics covered by the centre (e.g., sustainable energy, renewable feedstocks, water, infection control) are of broad societal interest, providing excellent opportunities for engagement of a wide range of publics in broader technical and scientific aspects of sustainability. Social impact will be achieved through participation of Centre students and staff in science cafés, science fairs (Cheltenham Science Festival, British Science Festival, Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition) and other events (e.g., Famelab, I'm a Scientist Get Me Out of Here). Engagement with schools and schoolteachers will help stimulate the next generation of scientists and engineers through enthusing young minds in relevant topics such as biofuels, solar conversion, climate change and degradable plastics.
The activities of the CDT have potential to have impact on policy and to shape the future landscape of sustainable chemical technologies and manufacturing. The CDT will work with Bath's new Institute for Policy Research, through seminars, joint publication of policy briefs to shape and inform policy relevant to SCT. Internship opportunities with stakeholder partners and, for example, the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology will provide further impact in this context.
The primary impact of the CDT will be in providing a pool of highly skilled and talented graduates as tomorrow's leaders in industry, academia, and policy-making, who are committed to all aspects of sustainability. The economic need for such graduates is well-established and CDT graduates will enhance the economic competitiveness of the UK chemistry-using sector, which accounts for 6m jobs (RSC 2010), contributing £25b to the UK economy in 2010 (RSC 2013). The Industrial Biotechnology (IB) Innovation and Growth Team (2009) estimated the value of the IB market in 2025 between £4b and £12b, and CIKTN (BIS) found that "chemistry, chemical engineering and biology taken together underpin some £800b of activity in the UK economy".
UK industry will also gain through collaborative research and training proposed in the Centre. At this stage, the CDT has 24 partners including companies from across the chemistry- and biotechnology-using sectors. As well as direct involvement in collaborative CDT projects, the Centre will provide an excellent mechanism to engage with industrial and manufacturing partners via the industrial forum and the Summer Showcase, providing many opportunities to address economic, environmental and societal challenges, thereby achieving significant economic and environmental impact.
Many of the issues and topics covered by the centre (e.g., sustainable energy, renewable feedstocks, water, infection control) are of broad societal interest, providing excellent opportunities for engagement of a wide range of publics in broader technical and scientific aspects of sustainability. Social impact will be achieved through participation of Centre students and staff in science cafés, science fairs (Cheltenham Science Festival, British Science Festival, Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition) and other events (e.g., Famelab, I'm a Scientist Get Me Out of Here). Engagement with schools and schoolteachers will help stimulate the next generation of scientists and engineers through enthusing young minds in relevant topics such as biofuels, solar conversion, climate change and degradable plastics.
The activities of the CDT have potential to have impact on policy and to shape the future landscape of sustainable chemical technologies and manufacturing. The CDT will work with Bath's new Institute for Policy Research, through seminars, joint publication of policy briefs to shape and inform policy relevant to SCT. Internship opportunities with stakeholder partners and, for example, the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology will provide further impact in this context.
