Removal of polycyclic musks by anaerobic membrane bioreactor: Biodegradation, biosorption, and enantioselectivity

- Anaerobic MBR was effective for removing PCMs from a wastewater solution.
- Biotransformation was the dominant removal mechanism for all five PCMs.
- PCMs were significantly partitioned to the biosolids phase in the anaerobic reactor.
- Negligible enantioselectivity was observed in the removal of chiral PCMs in AnMBR.

This study aims to investigate the performance of anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) for removing five polycyclic musks (PCMs), which are common active ingredients of personal care and household cleaning products. A laboratory scale AnMBR system was used in this investigation. Concentrations of the PCMs in both the liquid and biosolids phase were measured to conduct a mass balance analysis and elucidate their fate during AnMBR treatment. The AnMBR was effective for removing PCMs from the aqueous phase by a combination of biotransformation and sorption onto the biosolids. However, biotransformation was observed to be the dominant removal mechanism for all five PCMs. Enantioselective analysis of the PCMs in influent, effluent and biomass samples indicated that there was negligible enantioselectivity in the removal of these PCMs. Accordingly, all enantiomers of these PCMs can be expected to be removed by AnMBR with similar efficiency.