Ex-situ bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sewage sludge

Anaerobically stabilized sewage sludge has potential to partially substitute synthetic fertilizers. The main risk with the recycling of urban sludge on agricultural soils is the accumulation of unwanted products, such as trace metals and organic micropollutants. In this context, the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are particularly monitored because of their toxic properties at low concentrations and their high resistance to biological degradation. The aim of the present study was to optimize PAHs removal during anaerobic digestion of contaminated sewage sludge. Thirteen PAHs were monitored in laboratory-scale anaerobic bioreactors under mesophilic (35°C) and thermophilic (55°C) methanogenic conditions. Abiotic losses were statistically significant for the lightest PAHs, such as fluorene, phenanthrene and anthracene. It was shown that PAH removal was due to a specific biological activity. Biological PAHs removal was significantly enhanced by an increase of the temperature from 35°C to 55°C, especially for the heaviest PAHs. Bioaugmentation experiment was also performed by addition of a PAH-adapted bacterial consortium to a non-acclimated reactor. Significant enhancement of PAHs removal was observed. It was finally shown that PAH removal efficiencies and methanogenic performances were closely linked. The rate of biogas production may be used as an indicator of bacterial activity on PAH removal.

Download Full-text

Analysis of 27 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by matrix solid-phase dispersion and isotope dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in sewage sludge from the Spanish area of Madrid

Journal of Chromatography A ◽

10.1016/j.chroma.2007.03.026 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 1148 (2) ◽

pp. 219-227 ◽

Cited By ~ 66

Author(s):

Consuelo Sánchez-Brunete ◽

Ester Miguel ◽

José L. Tadeo

Keyword(s):

Mass Spectrometry ◽

Gas Chromatography ◽

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Sewage Sludge ◽

Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Solid Phase ◽

Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽

Matrix Solid Phase Dispersion ◽

Phase Dispersion ◽

Polycyclic Aromatic

Download Full-text

Changes of solid phase toxicity during sewage sludge composting in relation to bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part A ◽

10.1080/10934520802539681 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 44 (2) ◽

pp. 137-145 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Patryk Oleszczuk

Keyword(s):

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Sewage Sludge ◽

Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Solid Phase ◽

Polycyclic Aromatic ◽

Sludge Composting

Download Full-text

Fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons during composting of lagooning sewage sludge

Chemosphere ◽

10.1016/j.chemosphere.2004.09.039 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 58 (4) ◽

pp. 449-458 ◽

Cited By ~ 65

Author(s):

S. Amir ◽

M. Hafidi ◽

G. Merlina ◽

H. Hamdi ◽

J.C. Revel

Keyword(s):

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Sewage Sludge ◽

Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Polycyclic Aromatic

Download Full-text

Bioremediation of PAH-Contaminated Soils: Process Enhancement through Composting/Compost

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app10113684 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 3684 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Tahseen Sayara ◽

Antoni Sánchez

Keyword(s):

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Contaminated Soils ◽

Low Cost ◽

Polluted Soil ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Chemical Structures ◽

Hydrophobic Chemical ◽

Polycyclic Aromatic ◽

The Stability

Bioremediation of contaminated soils has gained increasing interest in recent years as a low-cost and environmentally friendly technology to clean soils polluted with anthropogenic contaminants. However, some organic pollutants in soil have a low biodegradability or are not bioavailable, which hampers the use of bioremediation for their removal. This is the case of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which normally are stable and hydrophobic chemical structures. In this review, several approaches for the decontamination of PAH-polluted soil are presented and discussed in detail. The use of compost as biostimulation- and bioaugmentation-coupled technologies are described in detail, and some parameters, such as the stability of compost, deserve special attention to obtain better results. Composting as an ex situ technology, with the use of some specific products like surfactants, is also discussed. In summary, the use of compost and composting are promising technologies (in all the approaches presented) for the bioremediation of PAH-contaminated soils.

Download Full-text

Comparison of changes in selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons concentrations during the composting and anaerobic digestion processes of municipal waste and sewage sludge mixtures

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2014.417 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 70 (10) ◽

pp. 1617-1624 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Izabela Siebielska

Keyword(s):

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Anaerobic Digestion ◽

Sewage Sludge ◽

Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Degradation Kinetics ◽

Municipal Waste ◽

Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽

Organic Fraction ◽

Important Conclusion ◽

Polycyclic Aromatic

Changes in naphthalene (Naph), phenanthrene (Phe), pyrene (Pyr), benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) and benzo(ghi)perylene (BgP) concentrations in a mixture of sewage sludge and the organic fraction of municipal waste were determined during composting and anaerobic digestion. The processes were carried out on a laboratory scale. The selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed in the samples using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The rates at which the PAHs concentrations decreased were evaluated during composting and anaerobic digestion. The selected PAHs degradation kinetics were compared during these processes. The most important conclusion of this work is that composting is much more effective than anaerobic digestion in removing five PAHs from a mixture of sewage sludge and the organic fraction of municipal waste.

Download Full-text