Organic Contaminants in Canadian Municipal Sewage Sludge. Part I. Toxic or Endocrine-Disrupting Phenolic Compounds

2002 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 681-696 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hing-Biu Lee ◽  
Thomas E. Peart
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Organic Contaminants ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Negative Ion ◽  
Municipal Sewage ◽  
Municipal Sewage Sludge ◽  
Fluorescence Detector ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting ◽  
Ionization Mode

Abstract The occurrence of toxic or endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEO), 4-nonylphenol (NP), 4-tert-octylphenol (OP), bisphenol A (BPA), triclosan (TCS), pentachlorophenol (PCP), hexachlorophene (HCP), and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) in 35 sewage sludge samples collected from cities across Canada is documented. Samples were extracted by supercritical carbon dioxide and the phenols were converted into their acetyl derivatives using published methods. The ethoxylates were analyzed by HPLC with a fluorescence detector. The other extracts, after silica gel column cleanup, were analyzed by GC/MS in either the electron impact or negative-ion chemical ionization mode. With minor exceptions, the above-mentioned compounds were present in all samples. The levels of these contaminants varied widely in the samples. The more abundant chemicals were NP as well as its mono- and di-ethoxylates, with median concentrations of 232, 69.4, and 26.4 µg/g (dry weight), respectively. Triclosan, a common antibacterial agent, BPA, and HCP were also ubiquitous in the sludge samples, with median concentrations of 12.5, 0.45, and 0.37 µg/g, respectively. Also present, albeit at much lower concentrations, were PCP and TBBPA, with median concentrations of 27.7 and 12.4 ng/g, respectively. Except for the last two compounds, all the chemicals are components or additives in various formulations of household and industrial detergents and personal care products. The potential risk of these toxic chemicals reaching the aquatic environment as a result of land spreading of sewage sludge should be investigated.

Behaviour of endocrine disrupting chemicals during the treatment of municipal sewage sludge

2004 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
pp. 133-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Ivashechkin ◽  
P.F.-X. Corvini ◽  
M. Dohmann
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Calcium Hydroxide ◽  
Ph Value ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ◽  
Municipal Sewage ◽  
Municipal Sewage Sludge ◽  
Digested Sludge ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting ◽  
Anaerobically Digested Sludge ◽  
Sludge Conditioning

Agricultural application of municipal sewage sludge has been emotionally discussed in the last decades, because the latter contains endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and other organic micro-pollutants with unknown fate and risk potential. Bisphenol A (BPA) was chosen as a model substance to investigate the influence of sludge conditioning on the end-concentration of EDCs in sludge. Adsorption studies with radioactive-labelled BPA showed that more than 75% BPA in anaerobically digested sludge is bound to solids (log Kd = 2.09-2.30; log Koc = 2.72-3.11). Sludge conditioning with polymer or iron (III) chloride alone had no influence on the adsorption of BPA. After conditioning with iron (III) chloride and calcium hydroxide desorption of BPA took place. Apparently, it occurred due to the deprotonation of BPA (pKa = 10.3) as the pH-value reached 12.4 during the process. The same behaviour is expected for other phenolic EDCs with similar pKa (nonylphenol, 17β-estradiol, estron, estriol, 17α-ethinylestradiol). This study shows high affinity of BPA to the anaerobically digested sludge and importance of conditioning in the elimination of EDCs during the sludge treatment. Addition of polymer is favourable in the case of sludge incineration. Conditioning with iron (III) chloride and calcium hydroxide shows advantages for the use of sludge as fertiliser.

Hazardous organic matters in municipal sewage sludge in Taiwan

2001 ◽  
Vol 44 (10) ◽  
pp. 65-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. F. Cheng ◽  
S. Y. Chen ◽  
J. G. Lin
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Soil Amendment ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ◽  
Municipal Sewage ◽  
Municipal Sewage Sludge ◽  
Organic Matters ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting ◽  
Ethylhexyl Phthalate ◽  
Significant Attention

Application of municipal sewage sludge to agricultural land has attracted significant attention in recent years because it conserves abundant nutrients and hydrocarbons that can be used as a soil amendment. The presence of hazardous organic matters (HOMs) in sewage sludge limits the feasibility of reuse of sewage sludge. The purpose of this study was to investigate the types and the concentrations of HOMs in municipal sewage sludge in Taiwan. An efficient SFE/GC/MS method was used to determine HOMs in sludge samples. The results indicated that di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was persistently found in both aerobically and anaerobically digested sludges. 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) was only found in anaerobically digested sludges. Both DEHP and 4-NP have been characterized as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) or environmental endorine disruptors (EEDs). It suggested that sludges containing high levels of DEHP and 4-NP need further treatment and reduction of possible impacts on the environment before their reuse as soil fertilizers.

scholarly journals Sewage Sludge-To-Energy Management In Eastern Europe: A Polish Perspective

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 459-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Werle
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Organic Contaminants ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Municipal Sewage ◽  
Municipal Sewage Sludge ◽  
Sludge Management ◽  
Thermal Methods ◽  
Member States ◽  
Eu Directive ◽  
New Eu Members

Abstract The Sewage Sludge Directive 86/278/EEC was adopted about 30 years ago with a view to encourage sewage sludge reuse in agriculture and to regulate its use. Meanwhile, some EU Member States have adopted stricter standards and management practices than those specified in the Directive. In particular, the majority of Member States has introduced more stringent standards for sludge quality, including stricter limits for most potentially toxic elements, organic contaminants and other elements. In general, untreated sludge is no longer applied and in several Member States it is prohibited. In some cases, stringent standards have resulted in an effective ban on use of sludge in agriculture. Moreover, the implementation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive 91/271/EC should increase EU production of sewage sludge, thus enhancing problems related to sustainable sewage sludge management. Additionally, European legislation prohibits the landfill and water deposits of sewage sludge. The latest trends in the field of sludge management, ie combustion, pyrolysis, gasification and co-combustion, have generated significant scientific interest. This trend is specially strong visible in “new” EU Members countries which have to introduce strong EU Directive in their low system. Here the review the state of knowledge and technology in thermal methods for the utilization of municipal sewage sludge to obtain useful forms of energy such as pyrolysis, gasification, combustion, and co-combustion taking into consideration Poland situation is presented.

Effects of Land Application of Municipal Sewage Sludge on Growth, Physiology and Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

2014 ◽  
Vol 878 ◽  
pp. 647-656 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Dai ◽  
Biao Lin Peng ◽  
Bi Gui Wei ◽  
Gui Ma
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Land Application ◽  
Municipal Sewage ◽  
Municipal Sewage Sludge ◽  
Technical Solution ◽  
Good Growth ◽  
Growth Physiology ◽  
Sludge Application

The application of sewage sludge on agricultural soils is a promising technical solution. Pot experiments were performed to study the effect of sewage sludge application on growth, physiology and accumulation of heavy metals in three kinds of wheat. The experimental results showed soil pH decreased significantly with the increase of the application of sewage sludge. The contents of Cu, Zn and Pb in the mixed soil did not exceed the Environmental quality standards for soils in China for Grade II (GB-1518-1995).Wheat obtained good growth activities after the application of sewage sludge, however, high land application of sewage sludge (the ratio of sludge in the mixed soil of dry weight was 20% and 25%) inhibited seed emergence and root length. The content of total chlorophyll in wheat increased with the increase of sewage sludge application first and reached a maximum, and then decreased with a further increase of sewage sludge. Compared with the control, the a/b value in chlorophyll showed trace change. The content of proline in wheat increased with the increase of sewage sludge in low doses of sewage sludge (5%, 10% and 15%), while there was no significant increase in the content in high land application of sewage sludge. The physiological metabolism of wheat will exhibit abnormality as the stress of pollutants from sludge exceeded the tolerance of wheat. The content of three kinds of heavy metals in wheat grain increased obviously with sludge application increasing, indicating an increasing trend, and had the phenomenon of exceeded the safety qualification of non-environmental pollution food in china at high doses of sewage sludge. Taking account of the effects of sewage sludge application on growth,physiology and accumulation of heavy metals in wheat, the doses of sludge in the mixed soil of dry weight should be lower than 15%.

Safe Utilization of Municipal Sewage Sludge in Agriculture and Forestry

2015 ◽  
Vol 768 ◽  
pp. 542-552
Author(s):  
Liang Hei ◽  
Hui Wang ◽  
Qi Tang Wu ◽  
Wei Peng Yu
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Organic Fertilizer ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Scientific Basis ◽  
Municipal Sewage ◽  
Municipal Sewage Sludge ◽  
Municipal Wastewater Treatment

Municipal sewage sludge has been increasingly produced in China with the development of municipal wastewater treatment. The use of sewage sludge as a fertilizer and soil amendment has resulted in high concentrations of heavy metals in the soil and food limiting its use. Controlling the pollution of heavy metals is the key factor to realize the safe utilization of sewage sludge. The present study was carried out to find scientific basis to the appropriate sludge applications in agriculture and forestry. Pilot experiments inEucalyptusforest showed that the total yield and nutrient amount ofP.hydridumwere significantly higher thanA.marorrhiza, the annual average yield in dry weight and total nutrient amount ofP.hydridumwere 21.32 thm-2and 1248.2 kghm-2, respectively, 9.18 times and 3.58 times that ofA.marorrhiza, soP.hydridumwere more suitable to be the converting plant from sludge to biochar or organic fertilizer. After plants treatment, the maturity of sludge increased significantly, water content and soluble heavy metals decreased obviously, so that the agricultural safety increased, and the all indicators were conformed to the sludge requirements for agricultural use. In addition, theEucalyptustrees grow well with a large spread of sewage sludge. Nutrient contents ofEucalyptusforestland soil increased and heavy metal contents of the topsoil beneath the sludge did not significantly increase.

Beneficial reuse of precast concrete industry sludge to produce alkaline stabilized biosolids

2008 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Gowda ◽  
R. Seth ◽  
N. Biswas
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Precast Concrete ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Municipal Sewage ◽  
Municipal Sewage Sludge ◽  
Beneficial Reuse ◽  
Alkaline Agent ◽  
Sludge Waste ◽  
Phosphorus And Potassium

The precast concrete industry generates waste called concrete sludge during routine mixer tank washing. It is highly alkaline and hazardous, and typically disposed of by landfilling. This study examined the stabilization of municipal sewage sludge using concrete sludge as an alkaline agent. Sewage sludge was amended with 10 to 40% of concrete sludge by wet weight, and 10 and 20% of lime by dry weight of the sludge mix. Mixes containing 30 and 40% of concrete sludge with 20% lime fulfilled the primary requirements of Category 1 and 2 (Canada) biosolids of maintaining a pH of 12 for at least 72 hours. The heavy metals were below Category 1 regulatory limits. The 40% concrete sludge mix was incubated at 52 °C for 12 of the 72 hours to achieve the Category 1 and 2 regulations of less than 1000 fecal coliform/g solids. The nutrient content of the biosolids was 8.2, 10 and 0.6 g/kg of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium respectively. It can be used as a top soil or augmented with potassium for use as fertilizer. The study demonstrates that concrete sludge waste can be beneficially reused to produce biosolids, providing a long-term sustainable waste management solution for the concrete industry

A long-term chemical and infrared spectroscopy study on a soil amended with municipal sewage sludge

Agronomie ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Gigliotti ◽  
Pier Lodovico Giusquiani ◽  
Daniela Businelli
Keyword(s):  
Infrared Spectroscopy ◽  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Municipal Sewage ◽  
Municipal Sewage Sludge ◽  
Spectroscopy Study
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