The fate of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the wastewater treatment process and its importance in the removal of wastewater contaminants

Goal, Scope and Background Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) constitutes a parameter of organic pollution for waters and wastewaters, which is not so often studied, and it is not yet regulated by directives. The term ‘DOC’ is used for the fraction of organics that pass through a 0.45 μm pores’ size membrane. The type of wastewater plays an important role in the quality of DOC and it has been shown that DOC may contain aquatic humic substances, hydrophobic bases, hydrophobic neutrals, hydrophilic acids, hydrophilic bases and hydrophilic neutrals. The quality of the DOC is expected to affect its fate in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), since a considerable fraction of DOC is not biodegradable, and it may be released in the aquatic environment together with the treated effluent. In the present study, the occurrence of DOC during the wastewater treatment process is investigated and its removal rates during primary, secondary and overall treatment are being estimated. Furthermore, a correlation is being attempted between DOC and the concentrations of selected Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and Heavy Metals (HMs) in the dissolved phase of wastewaters, to examine whether there are common sources for these pollution parameters in WWTPs. Also, DOC is being correlated with the partition coefficients of the above-mentioned pollutants in wastewater, in order to examine the effect of ‘solubility enhancement’ in WWTPs and to evaluate the result of this phenomenon in the efficiency of a WWTP to remove organic pollutants. Methods For the purposes of this study, 24-h composite wastewater samples were collected from the influent (raw wastewater, RW), the effluent of primary sedimentation tank (primary sedimentation effluent, PSE) and the effluent of secondary sedimentation tank (secondary sedimentation effluent, SSE). Samples were analyzed for the presence of 26 POPs (7 PCBs and 19 organochlorine pesticides), 8 HMs and DOC. Results and Discussion Mean concentrations of DOC in RW and PSE were at similar levels (∼ 70 mg l⁻¹), suggesting that primary treatment has a minor effect on the DOC content of wastewater. DOC concentrations in SSE were significantly lower (∼ 19 mg l⁻¹) as a result of the degradation of organic compounds in the biological reactor. Calculated removals of DOC were 0.8% in the primary treatment, 63% in the secondary treatment, and 69% in the overall treatment, exhibiting large differences from other organic pollution parameters, such as BOD and COD. The overall DOC removal was found to be independent from the DOC concentration in raw wastewater. Poor correlation was also observed between the DOC content and the concentrations of wastewater contaminants, such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals (HMs), probably suggesting that their occurrence in WWTPs is due to different sources. A good negative linear relationship was revealed between DOC concentrations and the logarithms of the distribution coefficients (K _d) of various POPs and HMs between the solid and the liquid phases of wastewater. This relationship suggests that DOC facilitates hydrophobic pollutants to remain in the dissolved phase thus causing lower removal percentages during the treatment process. Conclusion DOC was measured at three stages of a municipal WWTP that receives mainly domestic wastewater and urban runoff. DOC concentrations in untreated and primarily treated wastewater were almost equal, and only after the secondary sedimentation there was a decrease. Concentrations and removal rates of DOC were in the same levels as in other WWTPs that receive municipal wastewater. The origin of DOC was found to be different to the one of POPs and of HMs, as no correlation was observed between the concentrations of DOC and the concentrations of these pollutants. On the contrary, DOC was found to have significant negative correlation with the K _d of all pollutants examined, suggesting that it plays an important role in the partitioning of those pollutants between the dissolved and the sorbed phase of wastewaters. This effect of DOC on partitioning can affect the ability of WWTPs to remove toxic pollutants, and that way it facilitates the discharge of those chemicals in the aquatic ecosystems together with the treated effluent. Recommendation By the results of this work it is shown that the presence of DOC in wastewaters can significantly affect the partition of hazardous pollutants between the dissolved and the sorbed phase. It is therefore of importance that this parameter is controlled more in wastewaters, since it can cause a decrease in the efficiency of WWTPs to remove quantitatively persistent pollutants.     

天然水体中铜的形态及其对Q67淡水发光菌的毒性作用

通过铜加标实验,运用两步酸化阳极溶出伏安法(DAM-DPASV)得到官厅水库各水样对铜的络合容量,同时测定了水样在铜加标前后对Q67淡水发光菌的96h急性毒性.官厅水库各水样对铜的络合容量为26～128μg/L,与水样中DOC的含量成正比,络合容量随DOC含量的增加而升高.铜对Q67淡水发光菌的毒性随着水样对铜络合容量的增加而降低,相对于用总铜浓度表示的EC50而言,由电极有效态铜浓度(无机铜浓度)表示的EC50能够更好地预测天然水体中铜对Q67淡水发光菌的毒性.      

引滦水中天然有机化合物的形态及紫外吸收特征

用改进的Leenheer法将引滦水中的天然有机化合物分离为悬浮态和溶解态两大类,后者又分离成憎水有机物、腐殖酸类、强阴离子化合物和其它亲水化合物4种。溶解态有机物含量在4—5mgC/L之间,其中半数左右为腐殖酸类,其紫外吸收强度远在其它形态之上。非极性憎水有机物在5％以下。     

利用耗氧速率判断好氧堆肥腐熟度的探讨

在试验的基础上分析了利用耗氧速率判断堆肥腐熟度的可行性 .试验中堆肥高温阶段持续 6d以上 ,达到国家《粪便无害化卫生标准 (GB795 9 87)》的要求 .堆肥过程中铵态氮含量下降、硝态氮含量上升 ,1 1d后 ,堆肥DOC含量为 0 5 %左右 ,种子相对发芽率达到 80 %以上 ,表明堆肥达到腐熟 .升温阶段前期 ,耗氧速率呈迅速增加的趋势 ;升温阶段后期和高温阶段前期 ,耗氧速率维持相对稳定 ,高温阶段中期、末期耗氧速率开始下降 .相对发芽率验证表明 ,在堆肥高温阶段末期 ,耗氧速率下降到 1 0 0 μL·L-1 ·s-1 以下 ,此指标可以作为堆肥腐熟的标志 .以耗氧速率代替传统的测量堆肥的理化、生物指标来判断堆肥腐熟度不需要采样、分析等复杂手续 ,将以往的需要几天才能获得腐熟状况变为实时、在线监测 ,对堆肥技术的实际推广具有重要意义     

长江下游湖泊中可溶性有机碳的时空分布

2001年7月至2003年1月对长江下游的太湖、巢湖和龙感湖水体中可溶性有机碳(DOC)的时空分布进行了研究。结果显示．太湖水体中DOC的平均浓度最高．巢湖次之,龙感湖最低;秋季水体中的DOC浓度较冬季高;藻型湖泊水体中DOC浓度较草型湖泊高;下午水体中DOC的浓度较上午高。水体中DOC浓度的垂直分布无明显的规律性。从周年来看．DOC的浓度随温度的升高而升高。     

河水DOC络合特性测定方法比较

为了研究燃煤过程中铅的排放量及其环境效应,对西安市燃煤电厂的原煤、底灰、飞灰的含铅量,采暖期燃煤锅炉的原煤和炉渣的含铅量,采暖期和非采暖期降尘的含铅量等进行了分析和测算.结果表明: 燃烧1 t含铅量为30 g左右的煤,排放到大气中的铅为20 g左右.燃煤中铅的排放率为66%左右.西安市及邻区每年工农业和民用燃煤1000万t左右,主要为渭北石炭-二叠系煤,含铅量为30 g/t左右,其每年排放到大气中的铅为200t左右.     

中亚热带典型人工针叶林土壤溶解性有机碳浓度变化特征研究

土壤溶解性有机碳（DOC）是土壤有机碳库的活性组分,DOC降解影响土壤有机碳的迁移转化过程、生态系统的养分平衡和微生物的能源供给。当前大气氮沉降的增加是影响我国南方森林生态系统碳固定过程的重要因素,已引起各方广泛关注。论文基于中亚热带红壤丘陵区三种人工针叶林过去5 a 的施肥试验,重点分析了不同树种土壤DOC季节及0~30 cm土壤垂直剖面上的动态变化特征,对比分析了施肥对于不同人工林土壤DOC的影响。研究发现：① DOC浓度季节变化：湿地松林为秋季 >春季 >夏季 >冬季;马尾松林为秋季 >春季 >冬季 >夏季;杉木林为秋季>夏季>冬季>春季。DOC浓度剖面变化特征如下：湿地松林为10 cm>20 cm>30 cm;马尾松林为20 cm >10 cm >30 cm;杉木林为20 cm >30 cm >10 cm。②湿地松林土壤DOC浓度：施P肥 >对照 >施N+P肥 >施N肥;马尾松林土壤DOC浓度：对照、施N+P肥>施N肥>施P肥;杉木林：对照>施P肥>施N肥、施N+P肥。论文通过研究不同施肥条件下人工林DOC浓度在季节和剖面上的变化,可为了解大气氮沉降对中亚热带人工针叶林土壤DOC的可能影响提供重要的科学依据。     

The Role of Organic Matter in Natural Aquatic Systems: Analytical Constraints

The dissolved organic matter in aquatic systems consists of a heterogeneous mixture of compounds with wide ranging chemical properties and diverse origins. the presence of organic matter (OM) in surface and ground waters has important implications with regard to the mobility and therefore fate of many potential organic and inorganic pollutants. the majority of the analytical approaches in current use require exhaustive pre-treatment steps which may lead to the formation of artefacts within the sample. an analytical technique based upon gel permeation chromatography is proposed as a more reliable procedure for the characterisation of naturally occurring dissolved organic matter.     

广州地区雨水化学组成与雨水酸度主控因子研究

采集了广州地区2003-10～2004-09的雨水样品,通过对雨水样品的pH值、主要阴阳离子组成和可溶性有机碳(DOC)的测定,分析了广州地区酸雨的现状以及影响雨水酸度的主要因素等.结果表明,在观测期间,广州地区酸雨频率高达85%;雨水的主要离子组成为NH₄⁺、SO₄^2-、NO₃^-、Ca²⁺、Cl^-和Na⁺,而DOC约占总化学组成的24.0%;雨水酸度的主要控制离子还是SO₄^2-,但NO₃^-对雨水酸度的影响越来越大;同时,水溶性有机酸对雨水酸度的贡献也很明显.另外,来自扬尘中高浓度的碱性含钙化合物也对雨水酸度有明显的中和作用.     

山地土壤表层水溶性有机物淋溶动力学模拟研究

测定了伊春河流域河水、井水、坡面漫流、土壤淋溶液等样品中的水溶性有机物含量,据此结果建立了河水溶解态有机物来源的概念模型。并根据不同流速条件下土壤水溶性有机物淋溶模拟实验的结果,探讨了水溶性有机物从山地土壤中淋溶的动力学过程。研究发现,吸着在土壤有机－矿质复合体表面的水溶性有机物的淋溶包括三个连续的动力学过程：即从复合体表面进入土壤毛管水的解吸作用,自土壤团粒结构内部转移到土壤重力水中的扩散和相迁移过程,以及被流动相携带淋溶的对流过程。这一物理模型可以表述为包括三个加和项的简单表达式,模型中的迁移速率常数与流动相线速度的某一方次成正比。