Summary
Effluents and sludges from municipal sewage treatment plants in Switzerland were analyzed for nonylphenol polyethoxylates (NPnEO, n=3–20), nonylphenol mono- and diethoxylate (NP1EC, NP2EC), corresponding nonylphenoxy carboxylic acids (NP1EC, NP2EC) and nonylphenol (NP). These chemicals derive from nonionic surfactants of the alkylphenol polyethoxylate type and contribute significantly to the organic loading in sewage effluents (2–13% of the total dissolved organic carbon in primary effluents). Specific analytical methods were used to study their behaviour during mechanical-biological sewage treatment and subsequent sewage sludge treatment. The parent NPnEO surfactants (n=3–20) with concentrations in raw and mechanically treated sewage from 400 to 2′200 mg/m3 were efficiently removed by the activated sludge treatment (usually more than 90%). However, this resulted in the formation of several metabolic products, and the refractory nature of NP1/2E0, NP1/2EC and NP was recognized. The abundance of the different metabolites varied depending on the treatment conditions. Both biotransformations and physicochemical processes determine the behaviour and fate of the nonylphenolic substances in sewage treatment.
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© 1986 ECSC, EEC, EAEC, Brussels and Luxembourg
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Ahel, M., Giger, W., Koch, M. (1986). Behaviour of Nonionic Surfactants in Biological Waste Water Treatment. In: Bjørseth, A., Angeletti, G. (eds) Organic Micropollutants in the Aquatic Environment. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4660-6_44
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4660-6_44
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