Temporal evolution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sludge from wastewater treatment plants: comparison between PAHs and heavy metals

This paper presents results on the presence and temporal variability of the 16 PAHs recommended by the EPA in primary, secondary and digested sewage sludge over a year. The sewage sludges originated from the Guadalete wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) site in Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz, Spain). These organic pollutants have been extracted from the sewage sludge by microwave energy. High performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array (HPLC-DAD) or fluorescence (HPLC-FL) detectors have been used. The results showed that total PAHs concentration varied between 1,945 ng g(-1) dry matter (DM) for primary sludges collected in March and 10,100 ng g(-1) DM for primary sludge collected in June. Generally, concentrations of PAHs were higher in compost and digested sludge than in fresh one. On the other hand, the highest concentration of PAHs were found on summer. This thing is associated to the traffic increase from inland zones to the coast (Jerez de la Frontera is very near to beaches). Finally, this paper present a comparative study of the American an European legislation concluding that the limits of concentrations established are not exceeded. In addition heavy metals were analysed. The origin of PAHs and heavy metals seems to be different.     

Persistence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sewage sludge-amended soil

The application of sewage sludge as a fertilizer is a common method used to improve soil properties. However, sewage sludge may contain various organic pollutants including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In the present study, the persistence of PAHs in soils fertilized with different sewage sludge doses was compared in relation to the sewage sludge dose applied (30, 75, 150, 300 and 600 Mgha(-1)) and the content of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in them. The experiment was carried out in two blocks of experimental plots divided according to the type of plants grown: field plants and perennial-willow. Sewage sludge addition to soils resulted in an increase in the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in these soils. This increase was proportional to the quantity of sewage sludge applied. The results obtained showed that during a 42/54-month period, more than half of the individual PAHs introduced into the soil with sewage sludge were degraded. The scope of dissipation depended on the sewage sludge dose and the use to which the area was put. In the experiment with the willow only in the case of the highest sludge dose was a decrease in the PAH content above 50% noted; whereas in the case of the experiment with the field plants, it was higher by 50% for all sewage sludge doses. In experiment with field plants the highest scope of individual PAH disappearance was observed in the soil with the sewage sludge dose amounting to 300 Mgha(-1). In experiment with willow a relatively high dissipation of individual PAHs (>50%) was found in the treatment with the highest sludge dose (600 Mgha(-1)). A wider PAH dissipation range in the experiment with field plants was conditioned by the more favourable conditions created as a result of the breeding treatments applied. Agrotechnical treatments clearly increased the disappearance of the PAHs in those soils fertilized with the lowest sewage sludge doses (30 and 75 Mgha(-1)). The results obtained showed that the preferred method of treating a light soil fertilised with sewage sludges should be a one-year system, with a sludge application of 75 Mgha(-1).     

On the use of PAH molecular diagnostic ratios in sewage sludge for the understanding of the PAH sources. Is this use appropriate?

The concentrations ratios of specific pairs of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widely used for the qualitative determination of the PAHs sources. These ratios are called PAHs molecular diagnostic ratios and are commonly used for PAHs concentrations in air, soils and sediments. Some scientists have extended the use of these ratios also for sewage sludges, suggesting that calculation of these ratios by individual PAHs concentrations can be as effective as in soils or sediments. This paper describes the reason why the PAH molecular ratios calculated from sewage sludge concentrations should not be used for the understanding of the PAH sources.     

Correlation between inorganic (heavy metals) and organic (PCBs and PAHs) micropollutant concentrations during sewage sludge composting processes

The nature and congener composition of PCBs and PAHs present in sewage sludge composting processes was investigated. These studies included analysis of the most significant process parameters (such as pH, temperature, weight percentage variation) and in addition heavy metals whose typical composting speciation and behaviour were also considered in order to better understand organic compound time profiles. The significant correlation found between Pb, Cd, Cu and PCBs and between PAHs and Hg implies that quite a strong adsorption of PCBs onto organic matter takes place and also provides evidence for the volatilisation of PAHs. Chemical characteristics of inorganic species and organic compounds are summarised to account for the observed correlation and time trend profiles. Moreover, single congener concentrations demonstrate that the number of Cl substituents for PCBs and condensed benzene rings for PAHs determine to what extent they can be broken down for biodegradation and removed through volatilisation respectively.     

Migration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban treatment sludge to the air during PAH removal applications

In the present study, the amounts of polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) penetrating into air during PAH removal applications from the urban treatment sludge were investigated. The effects of the temperature, photocatalyst type, and dose on the PAH removal efficiencies and PAH evaporation were explained. The sludge samples were taken from an urban wastewater treatment plant located in the city of Bursa, with 585,000 equivalent population. The ultraviolet C (UV-C) light of 254 nm wavelength was used within the UV applications performed on a specially designed setup. Internal air of the setup was vacuumed through polyurethane foam (PUF) columns in order to collect the evaporated PAHs from the sludge during the PAH removal applications. All experiments were performed with three repetitions. The PAH concentrations were measured by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). It was observed that the amounts of PAHs penetrating into the air were increased with increase of temperature, and more than 80% of PAHs migrated to the air consisted of 3-ring compounds during the UV and UV-diethylamine (DEA) experiments at 38 and 53 °C. It was determined that 40% decrease was ensured in Σ₁₂ (total of 12) PAH amounts with UV application and 13% of PAHs in sludge penetrated into the air. In the UV-TiO₂ applications, a maximum 80% of Σ₁₂ PAH removal was obtained by adding 0.5% TiO₂ of dry weight of sludge. The quantity of PAH penetrating into air did not exceed 15%. UV-TiO₂ applications ensured high levels of PAH removal in the sludge and also reduced the quantity of PAH penetrating into the air. Within the scope of the samples added with DEA, there was no increase in PAH removal efficiencies and the penetration of PAHs into air was not decreased. In light of these data, it was concluded that UV-TiO₂ application is the most suitable PAH removal alternative that restricts the convection of PAH pollution.

Implications: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) evaporation rates from sludge samples obtained from an urban wastewater treatment plant were investigated here for the first time by employing removal applications. TiO₂ and diethylamine were used as photocatalysts in this study. A special device was designed and successfully used in this study. Treatment sludge can be a significant source of PAHs for the atmosphere. The data highlight the need for removal of PAHs in treatment sludge via methods limiting their evaporation to the air. It was observed that UV-TiO₂ application was the most suitable PAH removal alternative that restricts the convection of PAH pollution.     

PAH removal from spiked municipal wastewater sewage sludge using biological, chemical and electrochemical treatments

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been widely studied due to their presence in all the environmental media and toxicity to life. These molecules are strongly adsorbed on the particulate matters of soils, sludges or sediments because of their strong hydrophobicity which makes them less bioavailability, thus limiting their bioremediation. Different sludge treatment processes were tested to evaluate their performances for PAH removal from sludge prealably doped with 11 PAHs (5.5mg each PAH kg(-1) of dry matter (DM)): two biological processes (mesophilic aerobic digestion (MAD) and simultaneous sewage sludge digestion and metal leaching (METIX-BS)) were tested to evaluate PAH biodegradation in sewage sludge. In parallel, two chemical processes (quite similar Fenton processes: chemical metal leaching (METIX-AC) and chemical stabilization (STABIOX)) and one electrochemical process (electrochemical stabilization (ELECSTAB)) were tested to measure PAH removal by these oxidative processes. Moreover, PAH solubilisation from sludge by addition of a nonionic surfactant Tween 80 (Tw80) was also tested. The best yields of PAH removal were obtained by MAD and METIX-BS with more than 95% 3-ring PAH removal after a 21-day treatment period. Tw80 addition during MAD treatment increased 4-ring PAHs removal rate. In addition, more than 45% of 3-ring PAHs were removed from sludge by METIX-AC and during ELECSTAB process were quiet good with approximately 62% of 3-ring PAHs removal. However, little weaker removal of 3-ring PAHs (<35%) by STABIOX. None of the tested processes were efficient for the elimination of high molecular weight (> or = 5-ring) PAHs from sludge.     

Enhancement of PAH biodegradation in soil by physicochemical pretreatment

The effects were studied of short-term heating of contaminated soil and its soaking in an organic solvent on the subsequent biodegradation of PAHs. In a clayey dredged sludge with a high organic-matter content (12%), heating at 120°C for one hour increased the degree of degradation after 21 days of an aged PAH contamination from 9.5 ± 0.7% to 27 ± 5%. Lower temperatures resulted in smaller increases. The observed increase in biodegradation is caused by either transfer of PAHs from sorption sites with low desorption rates to those with high ones or transformation of slow-sorption sites into fast-sorption ones. Soaking of the above sludge in a 4:1 (v/vj acetone-water mixture increased the degree of degradation from 9.5 ± 0.7% to 20.4 ± 1.4%, probably as a result of dissolution of the PAHs in the pore liquid during soaking. Thermal pretreatment of a contaminated sandy soil with a low organic-matter content showed no significant effect on the degradation of aged PAHs. Soaking of the sandy soil increased the degradation of only PAHs of high molecular weight, namely from 24 ± 5% to 48 ± 7%.     

Changes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons during composting of sewage sludges with chosen physico-chemical properties and PAHs content

The aim of the experiment was to determine changes in the PAH content during sewage sludge composting. The extent was evaluated to which sewage sludge properties influences on PAHs losses during composting. Five municipal sewage sludges were studied from sewage treatment plants located in the south-east of Poland, i.e. in Stalowa Wola, Kra?nik, Lublin, Zamo?? and Bi?goraj. The treatment plants selected were characterised by their differentiation with catchments area as well as the industrial character of the areas. Sludge composting was carried out in aerobic conditions in plastic containers for a period of 76 days. The content of 14 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and some physical-chemical (TOC, Nt, TOC/Nt, CEC, BS, TEB, pH, available potassium and phosphorus, total forms of cations) sewage sludge properties were monitored. In the present study correlations between PAHs losses (during various phases of composting) and physical-chemical properties of sewage sludges and composts were also evaluated. The sewage sludges were characterised both by differentiated properties and by PAH content. The total PAH content (the sum of 14 PAHs from the EPA List with exception of naphthalene and acenaphthene) in the sludges ranged from 3674 to 11236 microg kg(-1). Four- and three-ring compounds were predominant in the sewage sludges. Almost all of the sludges were characterised by differentiated content levels of both individual PAHs groups and PAHs sum. After 76 days of composting, a significant lowering of the PAH content was observed in all sludges as compared to the beginning of the experiment. The range of total observed PAH losses was from 15.8% to 48.6%, depending on the sewage sludge. The largest lowering of the PAH content was observed in the sludge with the lowest concentration of the xenobiotics studied. The largest losses in individual PAHs were observed in the case of five- and six-rings compounds, and were probably related to strong pollutant binding by other components of the sewage sludge. The few significant relationships showed that PAH losses during composting were only slightly determined by the analysed physical-chemical properties.     

Occurrence of organic contaminants in sewage sludges from eleven wastewater treatment plants, China

This study presents the occurrence of 43 semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) listed as priority pollutants by both China and the United States Environmental Protection Agency, in sewage sludges collected from eleven wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) of mainland and Hong Kong, China. Thirty-six SVOCs were detected by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometer (GC-MS) and at least 14 in each sample. The most abundant compounds were phthalic acid esters (PAEs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with total concentrations ranging from 10 to 114mgkg(-1) dry weight (d.w.) (with a mean of 30mgkg(-1) d.w.) and from 1.4 to 33mgkg(-1)d.w. (with a mean of 16mgkg(-1) d.w.), respectively, followed by chlorobenzenes, nitroaromatics, haloethers and halogenated hydrocarbons which occurred generally at concentrations lower than 10mgkg(-1) d.w. Large variations were observed between the concentrations of individual compounds as well as their total concentrations in sludge samples from different WWTPs. The highest values of sum concentration of 16 PAHs and of 6 PAEs were found in sewage sludge from Beijing. The mean total concentration of each class of SVOCs in sewage sludge from mainland was remarkably higher than that from Hong Kong. The concentrations of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in 91% sludge samples met the limit (100mgkg(-1)d.w.) proposed by the Europe Union for land application, whereas the PAH concentrations of 64% sludge samples exceeded the maximum permissible concentration (6.0mgkg(-1)d.w.). The occurrence of SVOCs in this study are compared with other studies and their sources are discussed.     

Removal of PAHs from laboratory columns simulating the humus upper layer of vertical flow constructed wetlands

Removal of three polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAHs (fluoranthene, pyrene and benzo(k)fluoranthene) from two types of PAH-contaminated effluents was investigated using four laboratory columns filled with two different organic media: a green compost and a layer coming from the first stage of vertical flow constructed wetlands. Synthetic runoff polluted by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were fed through the columns during a period of two months. After a period of hydrodynamic stabilisation, the results showed a great adsorption of PAHs (>95%) on the solid media due to their large adsorption capacities. Leaching of these compounds by water was monitored. The concentrations of PAHs in leaching samples indicated that PAHs were strongly adsorbed on organic substrates and that lixiviation was limited. Fluoranthene metabolites were also investigated. Accumulation of metabolites was transitory and located in the first few cm of the media, as was observed for PAH concentrations. A toxicity test of leachates based on the inhibition of the bioluminescence of luminescent bacteria Vibrio fischeri indicated a low inhibition which can be enhanced by metal traces.     

Partitioning and source diagnostics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in rivers in Tianjin, China

Water, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and sediment samples were collected from ten rivers in Tianjin and analyzed for 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), particulate organic carbon (POC) in SPM and total organic carbon (TOC) in sediment. The behavior and fate of PAHs influenced by these parameters were examined. Generally, organic carbon was the primary factor controlling the behavior of the 16 PAH species. Partitioning of PAHs between SPM and water phase was studied, and K(OC) for some PAH species were found to be significantly higher than the predicted values. The source of PAHs contamination was diagnosed by using PAH isomer ratios. Coal combustion was identified to be a long-term and prevailing contamination source for sediment, while sewage/wastewater source could reasonably explain a short-term PAHs contamination of SPM.     

Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in crops from long-term field experiments amended with sewage sludge

This study reports on the polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) content of crop plants grown at three different field experiments where controlled additions of sewage sludge were made a number of years ago. Archived samples of several crops have been analysed from sludge-amended and unsludged control plots for 15 PAH compounds. Root crops and above ground plant parts were available for several years following the last applications of sludge. Although the soil PAH burden increased substantially due to sewage sludge additions, and residues of these compounds have persisted in the soils for many years, increased PAH concentrations relative to the unsludged controls were not consistently detected in plant tissues. Plant samples were relatively enriched with low molecular weight compounds such as acenaphthene/fluorene nd phenanthrene. Various lines of evidence indicate that PAHs detected in above ground plant parts are chiefly derived from atmospheric inputs, while PAHs detected in root crops probably arise from adsorption to the root surface.     

Ozone pre-treatment as improver of PAH removal during anaerobic digestion of urban sludge

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are ubiquitous persistent pollutants. They may accumulate in sludge during wastewater treatment because of their low biodegradability and their hydrophobic characteristics. Combination of ozonation and anaerobic digestion may be efficient to remove PAHs naturally present in sludge. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of ozone pre-treatment, with and without surfactant addition, on the anaerobic degradation of 12 PAHs (from low to high molecular weight). Under anaerobic digestion without ozonation pre-treatment, the highest removals were obtained for the lightest PAHs (3-aromatic rings). Ozonation pre-treatment of sludge allowed to increase biodegradability or bioavailability of each PAH, and the PAH removals were well correlated to the PAH solubility. Finally, addition of tyloxapol before sludge ozone pre-treatment had antagonist effects on PAH removal during anaerobic digestion: negative impact on anaerobic ecosystem activity and improvement of PAH bioaccessibility (particularly the PAHs with the highest octanol water partition coefficients).     

Absorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to cellulose

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread toxic chemicals. The environmental fate of these chemicals is in part controlled by sorption to (organic matter in) sediments and soils. One of the most abundant organic matter compounds on earth is cellulose. Remarkably, sorption of PAHs to cellulose has hardly been studied; only two reports on the binding of some low-molecular-weight PAHs exist in the literature. In this study, sorption of PAHs to cellulose was investigated in more detail, by measuring isotherms for a series of 13 PAHs, covering a wide hydrophobicity range. The results indicated that sorption of PAHs to cellulose is a linear partition process for all PAHs investigated (phenanthrene-indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene). The affinity of PAHs for cellulose appeared to be about 400 times lower than for octanol and even up to 300000 times lower than for black carbon or coal. Linked to the estimated yearly production of cellulose and black carbon, these results suggest that cellulose is probably not a major environmental sorption domain for PAHs.     

Organic Contaminants from Sewage Sludge Applied to Agricultural Soils. False Alarm Regarding Possible Problems for Food Safety? (8 pp)

Goal, Scope and Background Sewage sludge produced in wastewater treatment contains large amounts of organic matter and nutrients and could, therefore, be suitable as fertiliser. However, with the sludge, besides heavy metals and pathogenic bacteria, a variety of organic contaminants can be added to agricultural fields. Whether the organic contaminants from the sludge can have adverse effects on human health and wildlife if these compounds enter the food chain or groundwater still remains a point of controversial discussion. Main Features This paper presents an overview on the present situation in Europe and a summary of some recent results on the possible uptake of organic contaminants by crops after addition to agricultural fields by sewage sludge. Results Greenhouse experiments and field trials were performed to study the degradation and uptake of organic micro-contaminants in sludge-amended agricultural soil in crops, such as barley and carrots grown in agricultural soil amended with anaerobically-treated sewage sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, but studies hitherto have revealed no immediate risks. Common sludge contaminants such as linear alkylbenzene sulphonates (LAS), nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), bis(diethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), showed neither accumulation in soil nor uptake in plants. Discussion It is assumed that the annual amount of sewage sludge produced in Europe will increase in the future, mainly due to larger amounts of high quality drinking water needed by an increasing population and due to increasing demands for cleaner sewage water. Application of sewage sludge to agricultural soils is sustainable and economical due to nutrient cycling and disposal of sewage sludge. However, this solution also involves risks with respect to the occurrence of organic contaminants and other potentially harmful contents such as pathogens and heavy metals present in the sludge. There have been concerns that organic contaminants may accumulate in the soil, be taken up by plants and thereby transferred to humans via the food chain. Results obtained so far revealed, however, no immediate risk of accumulation of common organic sludge contaminants in soil or uptake in plants when applying sewage sludge to agricultural soil. With very high dosages of sewage sludge, there may be a risk for accumulation of very apolar contaminants, such as DEHP, to the soil. Conclusions Any conclusions on the safe use of sewage sludge in agriculture have to be drawn carefully, as the studies performed until now have been limited. Further studies are required, and before final statements can be drawn, it is imminent to study a larger variety of common crops and the effect sewage sludge application may have on a possible accumulation of organic contaminants in the crops. Furthermore, a larger variety of organic contaminants need to be studied and special focus should be given to contaminants newly introduced into the environment. Besides investigating possible plant uptake of organic contaminants, the fate of these compounds in soil after sludge application need to be monitored too. Here, special attention has to begiven to studies on degradation and the formation of degradation products, to weathering and to leaching effects on groundwater, to the application of different crops on the same field (crop rotation), to the use of full-width tillage and strip tillage, and to long term application of sewage sludge on the soil. Recommendations and Perspectives There are environmental, political as well as economical incentives to increase the agricultural application of sludge. However, such usage should be performed with care as there are also ways in which sludge fertilisation could harm the environment and human health. Recently, a new European COST Action (859) has been established covering the field of food safety and improved food quality. Part of the Action is dealing with the application of sewage sludge in agriculture. Before any political and economical measures can be taken, the pros and cons have to be sufficiently investigated on a scientific level first. ESS-Submission Editor: Prof. Elena Maestri (elena.maestri@unipr.it)     

Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil-water system containing a nonionic surfactant

The effect of a nonionic surfactant, Triton X-100 (TX100), on the distribution of four representative polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phenanthrene, fluorene, acenaphthene and naphthalene, in soil-water system was studied on a natural soil. The apparent soil-water distribution coefficient with surfactant (Kd*) for these compounds increased when TX100 equilibrium concentration from zero to around the critical micelle concentration (CMC), followed by a decrease in Kd* at TX100 equilibrium concentration greater than CMC. This is a direct result of surfactant sorption onto soil followed by PAHs partitioning to the sorbed surfactant. The values of carbon-normalized solute distribution coefficient (Kss) with the sorbed TX100 are greater than the corresponding partition coefficients with soil organic matter (Koc), which indicates the soil-sorbed nonionic surfactant is more effective per unit mass as a partitioning medium than the native soil organic matter for PAHs. When Kd* = Kd the corresponding initial concentration of surfactant was defined as critical washing concentration (CWC). Depending on the surfactant initial concentration below or above the CWC, the addition of nonionic surfactant can enhance the retardation of soil for PAHs or promote the removal of PAHs from soil, respectively. The values of Kd* and CWC can be predicted by a model, which correlates them with the compounds' octanol-water partition coefficients (Kow), soil property and the amount of soil-sorbed surfactant.     

PCDD/F, PAH and heavy metals in the sewage sludge from six wastewater treatment plants in Beijing, China

In order to better understand land application of sewage sludge, the characterization of heavy metals, PCDD/F and PAHs in sewage sludge was investigated from six different wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) in Beijing City, China. It was found that the total concentrations of Zn in Wujiacun (WJC) sewage sludge, and Cd and Hg in sewage sludge generated from all of the six different places are higher than Chinese regulation limit of pollutants for sludge to be used for agriculture (GB18918-2002). The levels of 16 PAHs that have been categorized as priority pollutants by US EPA in the sewage sludge samples varied from 2467 to 25923 microg/kg (dry weight), the highest values of 25923 microg/kg being found in WJC WWTP. The concentrations of Benzo[a]pyrene were as high as 6.1mg/kg dry weight in WJC sewage sludge, exceeding the maximum permitted content by GB18918-2002. Individual PAH content varies considerably with sewage samples. The ratios of anthracene to anthracene plus phenanthrene (An/178), benz[a]anthracene to benz[a]anthracene plus chrysene (BaA/228), indene[1,2,3-cd]pyrene to indene[1,2,3-cd]pyrene plus benzo[g,h,i]perylene (In/In+BP), and fluoranthene to fluoranthene plus pyrene (Fl/Fl+Py) suggest that petroleum and combustion of fossil fuel were the dominant contributions for the PAHs in sewage sludge. The concentrations of total PCDD/F in the sewage sludge ranged from 330 to 4245 pg/g d.w. The toxicity equivalent concentrations is between 3.47-88.24 pg I-TEQ according to NATO/CCMS, which is below Chinese legislation limit value proposed for land application. The PCDD/F congener/homologue profiles found in the Beijing samples indicated that the high chlorinated PCDD/F contamination might originate mainly from PCP-related source and depositional sources while the low chlorinated PCDD/F homologues could be originating from incineration or coal combustion. The major source of PCDD/Fs in Beijing sludge is still unclear.     

Degradation of inhibitory substances by heterotrophic microorganisms during bioleaching of heavy metals from anaerobically digested sewage sludge

The presence of organic acids was found to be inhibitory to the bioleaching of sewage sludge and the objective of the present study was to elucidate the roles of heterotrophic microorganisms in removing organic acids during the bioleaching of heavy metals from anaerobically digested sewage sludge. Microbiological analysis showed that acetic and propionic acids posed a severe inhibitory effect on iron-oxidizing bacteria as reflected by a sharp decrease in their viable counts in the first 4d and it only started to increase 2d after the depletion of both acids. Biodegradation of these inhibitory organic acids was revealed by sharp increases in total fungi and acidophiles between day 3 and day 5 which coincided with degradation of organic acids. This was further confirmed by the increases in total counts of both acetate and propionate degraders in the same period. Two yeast strains Y4 and Y5 with strong ability to degrade acetate and/or propionate were isolated and identified as Pichia sp. and Blastoschizomycetes capitatus, respectively. B. capitatus Y5 was an more important player in removing the inhibitory organic acids during the bioleaching process since it could utilize both acetate and propionate as sole carbon source while Pichia sp. Y4 was an strict acetate degrader. Results from the present study not only provided the evidence for biodegradation of organic acids by heterotrophs, but also disclosed a biological mechanism for the initiation of bioleaching of organic acid-laden sewage sludge.     

Contaminant risks from biosolids land application: contemporary organic contaminant levels in digested sewage sludge from five treatment plants in Greater Vancouver,British Columbia

This study examines the potential for environmental risks due to organic contaminants at sewage sludge application sites, and documents metals and various potential organic contaminants (volatile organics, chlorinated pesticides, PCBs, dioxins/furans, extractable petroleum hydrocarbons, PAHs, phenols, and others) in current production biosolids from five wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) within the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD). There has been greater focus in Europe, North America and elsewhere on metals accumulation in biosolids-amended soil than on organic substances, with the exception of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans. Another objective, therefore, was to evaluate the extent to which management of biosolids re-use based on metal/metalloid levels coincidentally minimizes environmental risks from organic contaminants. Historical-use contaminants such as chlorophenols, PCBs, and chlorinated pesticides were not detected at environmentally relevant concentrations in any of the 36 fresh biosolids samples, and appear to have virtually eliminated from sanitary collection system inputs. The few organic contaminants found in freshly produced biosolids samples that exhibited high concentrations relative to British Columbia and Canadian soil quality benchmarks included p-cresol, phenol, phenanthrene, pyrene, naphthalene, and heavy extractable petroleum hydrocarbons (HEPHs--nCl9-C34 effective carbon chain length). It was concluded that, with the exception of these petroleum hydrocarbon constituents or their microbial metabolites, the mixing of biosolids with uncontaminated soils during land application and based on the known metal concentrations in biosolids from the Greater Vancouver WWTPs investigated provides adequate protection against the environmental risks associated with organic substances such as dioxins and furans, phthalate esters, or volatile organics. Unlike many other organic contaminants, the concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbon derived substances in biosolids has not decreased within the last decade or more in the WWTPs studied, and--unlike persistent chlorinated compounds--the associated PAHs and other hydrocarbon constituents merit careful consideration, especially in the context of repeated land-application of biosolid.     

The application of the vermicomposting process in the bioremediation of diesel contaminated soils

Abstract

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are among the environmental pollutants that have very high carcinogenic and mutagenic activity. Among hundreds of different PAHs, 17 are considered priority pollutants and routinely monitored for regulatory purposes. Extended periods of exposure and expensive clean-up costs are typically associated with the vast majority of processes used for the remediation of areas contaminated with PAHs. The results of this study indicate that bioremediation via vermicomposting could be an effective method for remedying soils contaminated with toxic organic compounds, such as PAHs. This study was conducted over 90?days in the presence of various quantities of organic matter (cattle manure) to recover soils contaminated with PAHs. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was applied to identify PAHs. An evaluation of the toxicity of the final material and the transformation of the organic matter throughout the process was also conducted. The data presented here suggest a relationship between the molar mass of the PAHs and the ability of the vermicomposting process to promote biodegradation. These results suggest that vermicomposting has great potential to be utilized as a tool for the bioremediation of soils impacted by PAHs.