Experimental Design and Bioassays as Tools to Investigate the Impact of Anodic Oxidation on Progestins Degradation

The present study investigated the degradation of levonorgestrel (LNG) and gestodene (GES) through an anodic oxidation process mediated by active chlorine species. The independent variables [LNG]0 and [GES]0, current density (mA cm−2), and [NaCl]0 (mol L−1) were optimized through a response surface methodology (RSM) based on a four-level central composite design (CCD). Specific energy consumption allowed CCD-RSM analysis and optimization. The decay of progestins was followed to verify the kinetics of the anodic degradation process. Chlorine monitoring showed that excess Cl− concentration did not mean high hormones removal, as well as the excess of current density. Central point conditions ([NaCl]0 = 0.07 mol L−1, j = 32.5 mA cm−2, [LNG]0, and [GES]0 1.0 mg L−1) proved to be the best operational option. The performance with real pharmaceutical wastewater confirmed model optimization (2.2 ± 0.2 kWh g−1, with removals of 83.1 ± 0.9% and 75.1 ± 2.8% for LNG and GES, respectively). The selected condition was used for estrogenic activity and acute toxicity assays. The first allowed the identification of the initial estrogenic activity for the mixture of LNG and GES (924 E2-EQ ng L−1). Additionally, the electrochemical process could decrease this environmental parameter by 74.6%. The progestin mixture was classified as acute toxicity to Daphnia similis, with a toxicity unit (TU) of 2.5 100/EC50%. After electrolysis, the hormone solutions reached a fourfold increase in TU value, classified as high acute toxicity.