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.

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.

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.

Leaching of Phosphorus From Ashes of Co-Combustion of Sewage Sludge and Wood

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Pettersson ◽  
Bengt-A˚ke Andersson ◽  
Britt-Marie Steenari ◽  
Lars-Erik A˚mand ◽  
Bo Leckner
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Ph Value ◽  
Animal Manure ◽  
Municipal Sewage ◽  
Municipal Sewage Sludge ◽  
Bag Filter ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Recovery Method ◽  
Toxic Trace Elements ◽  
Phosphorus Sources

Municipal sewage sludge has a high concentration of phosphorus, which should be recovered because phosphorus is a limited natural resource. In this work, sewage sludge was co-fired with wood in a FBC boiler. The aim of the investigating was to study the solubility of phosphorus in the ashes, by leaching as an alternative to the phosphorous recovery method of using the ashes directly on farmlands. The fly ashes from the boiler’s secondary cyclone and bag filter were leached at various pH-values and the release of phosphorus was measured. Only acidic leaching was applied. The ashes precipitated with Al2(SO4)3 released nearly all phosphorus at a pH-value of 1, whereas the ashes precipitated with Fe2(SO4)3 did not release all phosphorus even at the very low pH of 0.5. The concentrations of phosphorous in the leachate must be compared with liquid phosphorus sources such as human urine or liquid animal manure used as fertilisers. This may result in that the leachate has to be processed further. A continuation of the work to investigate to what extent the leachate is contaminated with toxic trace elements is necessary.

scholarly journals Chemical speciation and risk assessment of heavy metals in biochars derived from sewage sludge and anaerobically digested sludge

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiaqi Zhao ◽  
Chunsheng Qiu ◽  
Xiaodan Fan ◽  
Jinxin Zheng ◽  
Nannan Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Ph Value ◽  
Extraction Procedure ◽  
Pollution Index ◽  
Total Pore Volume ◽  
Digested Sludge ◽  
Anaerobically Digested Sludge ◽  
Dewatered Sewage Sludge ◽  
High Level

Abstract The dewatered sewage sludge (DSS) and anaerobically digested sludge (ADS) were pyrolyzed at 550 °C to investigate the characteristics of derived biochar and evaluate the risk of heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Cu, As, Cd, and Pb). The results showed that the pH value of the biochar derived from DSS (DSS-C) was slightly lower than that of the biochar derived from ADS (ADS-C), while DSS-C presented relatively higher specific surface area and total pore volume. DSS-C also showed higher H/C and lower O/C ratios than ADS-C, indicating a higher aromatic condensation and a lower polarity. And the total concentrations of Cr, Ni, Cu, As, Cd, and Pb in DSS and ADS increased significantly after pyrolysis owing to the thermal decomposition of organic matter in the sludge, with corresponding rise of the Nemerow pollution index (NPI) of the biochars compared with the raw sludge. In addition, the sequential extraction procedure (BCR) analysis revealed that pyrolysis process promoted the transformation of heavy metals from bio-available fractions to stable fractions. The potential environmental risk of heavy metals decreased from moderate and extremely high level in the DSS and ADS to low risk and moderate level in DSS-C and ADS-C after pyrolysis, respectively.

Inhibition of Anaerobic Digestion Caused by Heavy Metals

1992 ◽  
Vol 26 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 835-846 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. F. Mueller ◽  
A. Steiner
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Methanogenic Bacteria ◽  
Metal Species ◽  
Municipal Sewage ◽  
Municipal Sewage Sludge ◽  
Digested Sludge ◽  
General Sequence ◽  
Lower Nickel

The severity of heavy metal inhibition on anaerobic digestion is dependent on the metal species and their dissolved concentration in the digester. The general sequence of inhibition on anaerobic digestion of municipal sewage sludge was found with Ni > Cu > Cd > Cr > Pb. Metal immobilization affinity in the sludge followed the reverse sequence. Due to sulfide production during digestion high quantities of heavy metals are precipitating as highly insoluble sulfide salts. Nickel was immobilized to 94 % in the digester and indicated the most dramatic effect on anaerobic digestion. At a concentration of 250 to 300 g Ni m-3 toxicity occurred. Lower nickel concentrations resulted in reversible process inhibition. Copper up to 1000 g Cu m-3 caused reversible inhibition of acid producing, fermentative, and methanogenic bacteria. The time necessary for recovery of the process was dependent on the initial copper concentration in the digester. The organisms indicated capability of adaptation to copper. The copper uptake in the digester was 97 %. Cadmium inhibited digestion of sewage sludge up to approximately 50 % at 650 g Cd m-3. For long durations of acclimation a tendency toward recovery was observed. The cadmium uptake in the digested sludge was 99 %. Chromium and lead were uptaken at 99.9 % during digestion. Hence, the addition of these metals up to 1000 mg Cr/l and 600 mg Pb/l showed only little effect on anaerobic digestion.

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

Presence of Phenolic Compounds in Sewage, Effluent and Sludge from Municipal Sewage Treatment Plants

1982 ◽  
Vol 14 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 143-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
F B DeWalle ◽  
D A Kalman ◽  
R Dills ◽  
D Norman ◽  
E S K Chian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Municipal Sewage ◽  
Sewage Effluent ◽  
Capillary Gc ◽  
Digested Sludge ◽  
Calculated Concentration ◽  
Sewage Treatment Plants ◽  
Anaerobically Digested Sludge ◽  
Final Effluent ◽  
Dimethyl Phenol

A total of 25 municipal sewage treatment plants were sampled, 10 of which were resampled, to determine the quantity of phenolics in the sewage, final effluent and the anaerobically digested sludge using capillary GC/MS/DS/techniques. The study noted in decreasing order of frequency in raw sewage: phenol, pentachloro-phenol, dimethyl phenol, 3-methyl, 4-chlorophenol, 2,4,6-trichloro-phenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 2-nitrophenol, 2-chlorophenol, 2,4-dinitro-6-methylphenol and 2,4-dinitrophenol. The maximum concentration of phenol in sewage and sludge was 2800 ppb and 4460 respectively, while similar values for pentachlorophenol were 58 and 1200 ppb. Statistically calculated concentration reductions for phenol and dimethyl phenol were generally greater than noted for tri- and pentachlorophenol. Low decreases or increases were noted for monochlorophenol and especially for dichlorophenol as a result of the chloronation of the final effluent.

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