Fate of β-blockers in aquifer material under nitrate reducing conditions: Batch experiments

► Fate of three β-blockers in aquifer material, denitrifying conditions, batch tests. ► Abiotic and bio-activity related processes affecting atenolol. ► Atenolol biotransformed to atenololic acid; quantitative study, zero order kinetics. ► No mineralization for atenolol; atenololic acid stable under the studied conditions. ► Abiotic processes dominating the decline of metoprolol and propranolol.