Evaluation of the persistence of micropollutants through pure-oxygen activated sludge nitrification and denitrification

Water Environ Res. 2006 Oct;78(11):2276-85. doi: 10.2175/106143005x82244.

Abstract

The persistence of pharmaceuticals, hormones, and household and industrial chemicals through a pure-oxygen activated sludge, nitrification, denitrification wastewater treatment facility was evaluated. Of the 125 micropollutants that were tested in this study, 55 compounds were detected in the untreated wastewater, and 27 compounds were detected in the disinfected effluent. The persistent compounds included surfactants, fire-retardant chemicals, pesticides, fragrance compounds, hormones, and one pharmaceutical. Physical-chemical properties of micropollutants that affected partitioning onto wastewater solids included vapor pressure and octanol-water partition coefficients.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ammonia / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / analysis
  • Chromatography, Gas
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Hormones / analysis
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Nitrogen / chemistry
  • Oxygen / chemistry*
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / analysis
  • Sewage / analysis*
  • Sewage / chemistry
  • Waste Disposal, Fluid / methods*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis*
  • Water Purification / methods

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Hormones
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
  • Sewage
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Ammonia
  • Nitrogen
  • Oxygen