The occurrence and removal of selected pharmaceutical compounds in a sewage treatment works utilising activated sludge treatment

Pharmaceutical substances have been detected in sewage effluents as well as receiving waters in many parts of the world. In this study, the occurrence and removal of a number of drug compounds were studied within a large sewage treatment plant in the south of England. Samples were processed using solid phase extraction and analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results demonstrate that ibuprofen, paracetamol, salbutamol and mefenamic acid were present in both the influent and effluent of the works while propranolol-HCl was not found above the limit of quantification in any sample. Elimination rates were circa 90% for each compound but several hundred nanograms per litre were still present in the final effluent.     

Concentrations and specific loads of brominated flame retardants in sewage sludge

Many substances related to human activities end up in wastewater and accumulate in sewage sludge. The present study focuses on two classes of brominated flame retardants: polybrominated diphenyl ethers (BDE28, BDE47, BDE49, BDE66, BDE85, BDE99, BDE100, BDE119, BDE138, BDE153, BDE154, BDE183, BDE209) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) detected in sewage sludge collected from a monitoring network in Switzerland. Mean concentrations (n=16 wastewater treatment plants) were 310, 149, 95 and 17microg per kg dry matter for decaBDE, HBCD, penta- and octaBDE, respectively. These numbers correspond well with other studies from European countries. DecaBDE, HBCD, penta- and octaBDE showed average specific loads (load per connected inhabitant per year) in sludge of 6.1, 3.3, 2.0 and 0.3mgcap(-1)yr(-1), respectively. This is in line with consumption and storage of the compounds in the environment and the anthroposphere. Discrepancies observed for octaBDE and HBCD can be explained by the release from materials where these compounds are incorporated in and/or their degradation during anaerobic sludge treatment. Loads from different types of monitoring sites showed that brominated flame retardants ending up in sewage sludge originate mainly from surface runoff, industrial and domestic wastewater.     

Concentrations and specific loads of UV filters in sewage sludge originating from a monitoring network in Switzerland

Many substances related to human activities end up in wastewater and accumulate in sewage sludge. The present study focuses on the analysis of widely used UV filters 3-(4-methylbenzylidene) camphor (4-MBC), octyl-methoxycinnamate (OMC), octocrylene (OC) and octyl-triazone (OT) in sewage sludge originating from a monitoring network in Switzerland. Mean concentrations in stabilised sludge from 14 wastewater treatment plants were 1780, 110, 4840 and 5510 microg/kg dry matter for 4-MBC, OMC, OC and OT, respectively. Specific loads in sewage sludge show that UV filters originate mainly from private households, but surface runoff and industries may be considered as additional sources. This indicates that besides use for sunscreens and cosmetics UV filters might occur in plastics and other materials and be released to the environment by volatilization or leaching. Differences between the modeled per capita loads of UV filters in sewage sludge and the observed specific loads in sewage sludge are probably due to erroneous figures of production volumes, degradation and sorption during wastewater treatment as well as degradation processes during transport in the sewer or sludge treatment. Thus, further research is needed to elucidate the fate of UV filters after application and release into the environment. Other compounds used as UV filters should be included in future studies.     

Concentrations and specific loads of polycyclic musks in sewage sludge originating from a monitoring network in Switzerland

Polycyclic musks (HHCB, AHTN, ADBI, AHDI, ATII) and a metabolite of HHCB (HHCB-lactone) were analyzed in sewage sludge samples within the framework of a monitoring network in Switzerland. Mean values in stabilised sludge from 16 wastewater treatment plants were 20.3 mg/kg d.m. for HHCB, 7.3 mg/kg d.m. for AHTN and 1.8 mg/kg d.m. for HHCB-lactone, respectively. Contents of ADBI, AHDI and ATII were between 0.1 and 1.8 g/kg d.m. The results show that polycyclic musks origin mainly from private households and that loads from craft industry, industry and atmospheric deposition are negligible. The technology of wastewater treatment and sludge processing seems to be of minor importance for degradation processes of polycyclic musks. The calculated input in wastewater of polycyclic musks is lower by a factor of 5-7 than the estimates based on use volumes. This discrepancy might be explained by degradation processes, other emission pathways than wastewater or inappropriate estimation of production volumes.     

Changes in sewage sludge carbon forms along a treatment stream

The behaviour and fate of macronutrients and pollutants in sewage sludge applied to the land are affected by the chemical composition of the sludge organic matter, which in turn is influenced by both sewage source and by sewage treatment processes. In this study, (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to characterise the organic matter of sludges collected at three different points along the treatment stream of a municipal sewage works with a domestic catchment. Sludge at the first point, an undigested liquid (UL) sludge, had a substantially different composition to the anaerobically digested (AD) and dewatered sludge cake (DC) materials, which were similar to each other. In particular, the UL sludge contained more alkyl C than the AD or DC sludges. All three sludges were found to contain mobile alkyl C that is poorly observed using the cross polarisation (CP) technique, necessitating the use of the less sensitive, but more quantitatively reliable direct polarisation (DP) technique to obtain accurate distributions of C types.     

Socioeconomic constraints on the technological choices in rural sewage treatment

Technological innovation is one of the potential engines to mitigate environmental pollution. However, the implementation of new technologies sometimes fails owing to socioeconomic constraints from different stakeholders. Thus, it is essential to analyze constraints of environmental technologies in order to build a pathway for their implementation. In this study, taking three technologies on rural sewage treatment in Hangzhou, China as a case study, i.e., wastewater treatment plant (WTP), constructed wetland (CW), and biogas system, we analyzed how socioeconomic constraints affect the technological choices. Results showed that socioeconomic constraints play a key role through changing the relative opportunity cost of inputs from government as compared to that of residents to deliver the public good—sewage treatment—under different economic levels. Economic level determines the technological choice, and the preferred sewage treatment technologies change from biogas system to CW and further to WTP along with the increase of economic level. Mismatch of technological choice and economic level results in failures of rural sewage treatment, e.g., the CW only work well in moderately developed regions in Hangzhou. This finding expands the environmental Kuznets law by introducing the coproduction theory into analysis (i.e., inputs from both government and residents are essential for the delivery of public goods and services such as good environmental quality). A match between technology and socioeconomic conditions is essential to the environmental governance.

     

Concentrations and specific loads of glyphosate, diuron, atrazine, nonylphenol and metabolites thereof in French urban sewage sludge

Indirect soil pollution by heavy metals and organics may occur when sewage sludge is used as fertilizer. It is essential to define the nature and amounts of pollutants contained in sewage sludge in order to assess environmental risk. Here, we present results from a one-year monitoring of herbicides (glyphosate, diuron and atrazine) and their major degradates in sewage sludge sampled from three wastewater treatment plants and one composting unit in the vicinity of Versailles, France. The concentrations of these compounds were determined, as well as these of the surfactant nonylphenol. We demonstrated the presence of glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid at the mg kg(-1) (dry matter) level in all samples. Diuron was detected at the microg kg(-1) (d.m.) level, whereas its degradate and triazine compounds were below the limits of quantification. Nonylphenol amounts were higher than the future European limit value of 50 mg kg(-1) (d.m.).     

蚯蚓生态滤池处理农村生活污水现场试验研究

对蚯蚓生态滤池处理太湖流域农村生活污水进行现场试验研究.通过对蚯蚓同化容量与污染负荷进行单因素分析,得出蚯蚓生态滤池处理农村生活污水的运行参数与运行方式,并据此进行连续运行试验.结果表明,在表面水力负荷1 m3/(m2*d)、湿干比(布水时间和落干时间之比)1∶3、蚯蚓负荷(以单位体积填料中蚯蚓的质量计)12.5 g/L的条件下,蚯蚓生态滤池处理农村生活污水具有可行性与高效性,单级系统的COD、总氮、氨氮和总磷的去除率分别在81%、66%、82%和89%左右.改进蚯蚓床填料、设计通风结构和采取适宜运行方式,是蚯蚓生态滤池成功应用于农村生活污水处理的三大重要因素.     

中低温厌氧处理城市污水污泥颗粒化的研究

用高径比为3：1的UASB反应器分别在35℃和室温条件下处理模拟城市污水,研究了污泥的颗粒化过程.比较了在不同温度、浓度下形成的颗粒污泥的特征.水温为9～25℃,进水浓度为100～200 mg COD/L,水力上流速度（Vup）在0.013～0.11 m/h的4^#UASB反应器在60 d内在形成了成熟的颗粒污泥.研究表明,进水中低的有机物浓度,低的Ca^2＋、Mg^2＋浓度和低的Vup没有抑制颗粒化进程.     

粉煤灰在水厂污泥处理和处置中的作用研究

在水厂污泥水中加入电厂粉煤灰，不需再添加其他材料，即可以很好地改善水厂污泥的脱水性能。细粉煤灰最佳投加量为20％，粗粉煤灰最佳投加量为30％，不但可以节约能耗，粉煤灰有了新的出路，干化污泥对环境友好，而且还能制成低热值燃料作焚烧处置，回收部分热能。     

电化学反应提高生物滤池的城市污水脱氮效果

为了探明电化学反应对废水生物处理效果的影响,研制了电极一生物滤池以及相对照的普通生物滤池各一套。通过两套系统的对比试验,了解电化学反应对生物处理过程的影响。试验结果表明,电极一生物滤池与对照反应器相比较,CODCr和氨氮去除率提高不明显,而总氮的去除率提高了14．9％。     

造纸中段废水与生活污水合并深度处理工艺

采用水解酸化＋CAST＋混凝＋复合滤池与水解酸化＋接触氧化＋混凝＋复合滤池2种组合工艺对造纸中段废水与生活污水进行合并处理对照试验.结果表明,两种工艺都是切实可行的,二级出水均可达到《污水综合排放标准》（GB8978-1996）二级标准,深度处理出水可达中水水质要求.其中以水解酸化＋CAST＋混凝＋复合滤池组合工艺效果最好.     

Monitoring and modelling of siloxanes in a sewage treatment plant in the UK

Monitoring of cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes (cVMS) carried out at Anglian Water’s Broadholme sewage treatment plant (STP) is described. The method deployed used headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-GC/MS) and the addition of isotopically labelled cVMS to correct for partitioning in samples containing high levels of particulate and dissolved organic carbon. The method was capable of measuring cVMS in raw sewage samples, with recoveries of 80%, 85% and 71% respectively, for D₄, D₅ and D₆. The limit of quantification was 0.2 μg L⁻¹ for all three substances. Recoveries close to 100% were observed for all cVMS spiked into treated effluent (LOQ = 0.01 μg L⁻¹). Despite the volatile nature of cVMS and its ubiquitous presence in the ambient atmosphere, the methods deployed showed excellent recoveries, reproducibility and quantification limits. A distinct diurnal variation in cVMS concentration, probably linked with the use of personal care products was observed for raw sewage but not in treated sewage effluent. The estimated per capita consumption of D₅ (∼2.7 mg cap⁻¹ d⁻¹) derived for the population served by this plant was significantly lower than that derived in the Environment Agency (UK) risk assessment (11.6 mg cap⁻¹ d⁻¹). The cVMS were highly removed during sewage treatment with efficiencies greater than 98%. The methods and findings of this pilot study can be used as the basis for future studies on the fate of cVMS substances in STPs.     

等离子体与光催化复合技术净化污水处理泵站臭气

用一种等离子体-光催化复合技术净化污水处理泵站臭气，研究表明该复合技术具有较显著的协同促进效应，通过改变等离子体发生单元与光催化单元的距离以及在两者之间放置去静电网，可消除等离子体单元产生的负电荷对光催化单元的不利影响，进一步提高其复合效应。同时还对这一复合技术产生协同效应的机理进行了分析，并在污水处理泵站实地考查了这种复合技术对臭气的净化效果。该技术对臭气中NH3的降解率可达46．1％，对H2S的降解率可达67．3％。     

杭州某污水处理厂活性污泥中三氯生含量测定

采用快速溶剂萃取(ASE)进行样品前处理,用高效液相色谱检测了杭州某污水处理厂活性污泥中的三氯生(TCS)含量。在单因素基础上,通过正交实验得出ASE萃取最佳条件为甲醇作萃取剂,萃取时间2min,萃取次数4次,萃取温度80℃,冲洗体积70%。在色谱柱为Hypersil ODS2C18柱、流动相为甲醇/水(体积比95∶5)溶液、流量为1.0mL/min条件下检测。该方法的检出限为0.1μg/mL,线性范围为5~100μg/mL,方法的回收率为93.89%~105.62%,相对标准偏差(RSD)小于6%。该方法简单快速,灵敏度高,适用于活性污泥中TCS的检测。     

Emissions of OTNE (Iso-E-super) - mass flows in sewage treatment plants

The fate and mass flows of OTNE ([1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydro-2,3,8,8-tetramethylnaphthalen-2yl]ethan-1-one) which is commercialized as Iso-E-Super were studied in three large scale sewage treatment plants (STPs) in detail. The results are compared to 14 smaller ones located in Germany and Switzerland. OTNE inflow concentrations ranged from 4000 to 13,000 ngl(-1) while the effluent concentrations ranged from 500 to 6,900 ngl(-1). It is eliminated from the waste water with 56-64% during waste water treatment. High OTNE concentrations in sewage sludge showed that the elimination was mainly driven by sorption to sludge. This complies with major elimination in the first settling basins (primary settling tanks) while it was removed to a lesser extent in the aeration basin of the activated sludge treatment or in successive biofilters. The mass flows of OTNE in the influent of the German STPs were between 0.9 and 1.9 g per inhabitant and year. In the annual effluents mass flows of OTNE ranged between 0.2 and 0.8 g per inhabitant which complies with data measured in 13 smaller STPs from Switzerland. The similarity of data suggests that the observed mass flow data might be extrapolated to other European regions.     

中国城镇污水处理厂运行状况调查分析

根据问卷调查资料和抽样监测数据,分析了中国城镇污水处理厂的工艺水平、实际运行负荷、水质稳定性以及剩余污泥处理处置等方面的现状与问题.通过调查分析可知,近年来,中国的城镇污水处理事业得到了前所未有的发展,但城镇污水处理工作中也存在着一些明显不足,其主要表现为:(1)由于配套管网建设滞后和运行费用不足等问题,导致实际污水处理量未能与污水处理能力保持同步增长.近1/3数量的污水处理厂的运行负荷率低于70%,造成1/4以上的污水处理能力被闲置.(2)污水处理厂出水水质的稳定性普遍不高,一些传统的处理工艺则更差.(3)污泥不经脱水即随意外运、乱弃的现象已有很大改观,但绝大部分污泥都未经稳定化处理,更为严重的是仍有少部分污泥无任何处置措施.     

Occurrence of multiclass UV filters in treated sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants

Many substances related to human activities end up in wastewater and accumulate in sewage sludge. So far, there is only one extensive survey on the occurrence of UV filter residues in sewage sludge. However, more data are required to draw a reliable picture of the fate and effects of these compounds in the environment. This study attempts to fill this gap through the determination of selected UV filters and derivatives namely 4-methylbenzylidenecamphor, benzophenone-3, octocrylene, ethylhexylmethoxycinnamate, ethylhexyldimethyl PABA, 4-hydroxybenzophenone, 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone, and 4,4′-dihydroxybenzophenone in treated sewage sludge.The target compounds were extracted using pressurized liquid extraction and after this, determined by ultra high resolution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The determination was fast and sensitive, affording limits of detection lower than 19 ng g⁻¹ dry weight (dw) except for 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone (60 ng g⁻¹ dw). Good recovery rates, especially given the high complexity of sludge matrix (between 70% and 102% except for 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone (30%)) were achieved.The application of developed method allowed reporting for the first time the occurrence of two major degradation products of benzophenone-3 that have estrogenic activity in sewage sludge: 4,4′-dihydroxybenzophenone (in 5/15 WWTPs) and 4-hydroxybenzophenone (in 1/15 WWTPs). Results revealed the presence of UV filters in 15 wastewater treatment plants in Catalonia (Spain) at concentrations ranging from 0.04 to 9.17 μg g⁻¹ dw.     

Radiolytic decomposition of multi-class surfactants and their biotransformation products in sewage treatment plant effluents

Electron beam irradiation (EBI), as one of the most efficient advanced oxidation processes, was applied to the treatment of sewage treatment plant (STP) effluent, with the objective of evaluating the effectiveness of radiolytic decomposition of multi-class surfactants. Target compounds, included several high-volume surfactant groups, such as alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs) and their biotransformation products, linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS), alkyl sulfates (AS), alkylether sulfates (AES), coconut diethanol amides (CDEA), alcohol ethoxylates (AEO) and polyethylene glycols (PEGs). EBI treatment of STP effluent (total concentration of APEO-derived compounds 265mugl(-1), being APE(2)C the most abundant by-degradation products) resulted in efficient decomposition of all alkylphenolic compounds; elimination of 94% longer ethoxy chain nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEO, n(EO)=3-15) was obtained when 3kGy were applied. Slightly less efficient decomposition of short ethoxy chain oligomers (NPEO(1) and NPEO(2)) was observed, resulting in disappearance of about 80% of the initially present compounds. LC-MS analysis of treated wastewater suggested that the mechanism of EBI degradation of APEOs is a combination of two parallel pathways: a progressive shortening and oxidation of the ethoxy chain, which resulted in a formation of short ethoxy chain oligomers and APECs and central fission that resulted in formation of PEGs. Decomposition of APECs at 1kGy initially yielded APs, which were subsequently eliminated applying higher radiation doses. With a radiation dose of 2kGy about 95% of NPE(1)C and 97% of NPE(2)C were decomposed. Similar elimination rates were obtained for octylphenolic compounds. Radiolytic treatment applied was also very effective in removing PEGs formed as by-products from APEO degradation, as well as in decomposing other surfactants, such as linear LAS, AS and AES.     

Fate of radiocesium in sewage treatment process released by the nuclear accident at Fukushima

The nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) which occurred after the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011 resulted in releases of radionuclides such as ¹³⁴Cs (half-life:T_1/2 = 2.06 yr), ¹³⁷Cs (T_1/2 = 30.04 yr) and ¹³¹I (T_1/2 = 8.05 d) to the environment. For this paper, we observed the monthly variations of radiocesium (¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs) and stable Cs concentrations in influent, effluent, sewage sludge, and sludge ash collected from a sewage treatment plant 280 km north of the FDNPP from July to December, 2011. Using the stable Cs results, we concluded the mass balance of Cs in the sewage treatment plant showed that about 10% of the Cs entering the sewage treatment plant would be transferred to the sewage sludge, and then Cs in the sewage sludge was totally recovered in the sludge ash. The behavior of Cs was similar to that of Rb, but it was not similar to that of K in the sewage treatment process.