Occurrence and behaviour of linear alkylbenzenesulphonates, nonylphenol, nonylphenol mono- and nonylphenol diethoxylates in sewage and sewage sludge treatment

The fluxes of linear alkylbenzenesulphonates (LAS), nonylphenol (NP), nonylphenol monoethoxylate (NP1EO) and nonylphenol diethoxylate (NP2EO) through sewage and sludge treatment of 29 Swiss sewage treatment plants were investigated. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine LAS. Normal-phase HPLC was employed to measure NP, NP1EO and NP2EO which are metabolites of the nonionic surfactants of the nonylphenol polyethoxylate type (NPnEO). Quantitative determinations were performed of raw sewage, primary and secondary effluents and of sewage sludge. Under normal conditions of sewage and sludge treatment, LAS were efficiently removed from the raw wastewater (> 99% w/w) and were partly transferred to the sewage sludge (15–20% w/w). About 50% (molar base) of NPnEO in the sewage were transformed to NP and accumulated in the digested sludge. Large variations existed among different sewage treatment plants. It was estimated that 1.0 g m⁻² y⁻¹ of LAS and 0.3 g m⁻² y⁻¹ of NP are applied with sewage sludge to Swiss soils.     

Bacterial community shifts in nonylphenol polyethoxylates-enriched activated sludge

A molecular approach was used to evaluate the effect of nonylphenol ethoxylate surfactants on the bacterial diversity in lab-scale activated sludge reactors. Separate bench-scale units were fed synthetic wastewater with and without addition of branched nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPnEO). The performance of the reactors, in terms of carbonaceous removal was largely unaffected by the presence of NP10EO in the feeding solution. However, addition of NP10EO exerted a pronounced shift in bacterial community composition. In situ hybridization analyzing larger phylogenetic groups of bacteria with ribosomal RNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes revealed the dominance of clusters composed of Betaproteobacteria, accounting for up to one-third of 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindol-dihydrochloride (DAPI)-stained cells in NP10EO amended reactors and only 5% of DAPI-stained cells in the controls. These shifts in populations of larger phylogenetic groups were confirmed by dot-blot analysis of rRNA. Members of gamma subclass of Proteobacteria were present in low numbers in all activated sludge samples examined, suggesting that only bacteria affiliated with the beta subclass of Proteobacteria may have a specific role in NP10EO degradation.     

Occurrence of selected surfactants in untreated and treated sewage

Several surfactants were monitored in treated and untreated sewage in nine municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in western Austria. The nine sampled WWTPs cover a wide variety referring to size and applied treatment technology. The investigation focused on linear alkylbenzene sulphonate (LAS), quaternary ammonia compounds (QAC), nonylphenol (NP), octylphenol (OP), nonylphenolmono- (NP(1)EO) and -diethoxylates (NP(2)EO). Whereas LAS, NP, OP and NP(1,2)EO were analysed separately in the liquid phase and in the solid phase, the QACs were measured in the total sample. Total influent concentrations of LAS varied between 2.4 mg l(-1) up to 6.7 mg l(-1) whereas total effluent concentrations were in the lower microg l(-1) range (11-50 microg l(-1)). Whichever the type of treatment, a clear removal during treatment was observed. Solid liquid distribution coefficients K(d) were calculated for untreated sewage. The calculated K(d) values varied between 1300 and 3900 l kg(-1). OP was of minor importance with total influent concentrations below 1microg l(-1). NP and NP(1,2)EO were present in all analysed influents in concentrations between 1 and 35microg l(-1). Effluent concentrations were notably lower than the measured influent concentrations. K(d) values for NP varied between 500 and 6600 l kg(-1), for NP(1)EO between 800 and 2700 l kg(-1) and for NP(2)EO between 100 and 1800 l kg(-1). From the QACs several alkyl benzyl (BAC), dialkyl (DDAC) and trialkyl (ATAC) ammonium chlorides with varying alkyl chain lengths were analysed. Highest total concentrations in the influents to the WWTPs were observed for the BAC-C12 and the ATAC-C16 homologues. Effluent concentrations were notably lower compared to influent concentrations, indicating removal by adsorption and/or biodegradation. The influence of the removal by adsorption increased with increasing alkyl chain length.     

Occurrence and fate of endocrine disrupters in Greek sewage treatment plants

The occurrence of five endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), namely 4-n-nonylphenol (4-n-NP), nonylphenol monoethoxylate (NP1EO), nonylphenol diethoxylate (NP2EO), triclosan (TCS) and bisphenol A (BPA), was assessed in the raw, treated wastewater and sewage sludge of eight sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Greece. The analytes were extracted by solid-phase extraction (dissolved phase) or sonication (solid phase). Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The average concentrations in the raw and treated wastewater ranged from 0.23 (4-n-NP) to 5.76microgL(-1) (NP1EO) and from 0.15 (BPA) to 1.84microgL(-1) (NP2EO), respectively. A great part of the detected EDCs was sorbed on suspended solids. In sewage sludge, the average concentrations ranged between 0.17 (4-n-NP) and 12.3microgg(-1)dw (NP1EO). Analysis of daily mass flows in STP of Athens showed that, with the exception of 4-n-NP, all other EDCs were significantly removed (>85%) during wastewater treatment. Regarding the fate of these compounds, a significant part ranging from 45% (for TCS) to more than 70% (for NP1EO, NP2EO and BPA) was transformed by abiotic or biotic mechanisms, while the rest was accumulated in sewage sludge or disposed to the environment via the effluents. Calculation of risk quotients showed the existence of possible threat due to the presence of certain EDCs in treated wastewater and sludge.     

Development of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of alkylphenol polyethoxylates and their biodegradation products

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the quantitative analysis of alkylphenol polyethoxylates (APnEOs) and their biodegradation products. To generate a specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) for the ELISA, hybridoma cells were produced by the fusion of mouse myeloma cells and spleen cells from mice immunized with nonylphenol polyethoxylate (NPnEO) derivatives coupled to bovine serum albumin. The developed ELISA showed the detection limits of 16 and 30 μg/L NP10EO when 10% and 60% (v/v) methanol solutions were used as assay diluent. The mAb was shown to be specific to APnEOs and their metabolites, such as short-ethoxy-chain APnEOs and alkylphenoxy carboxylic acids, except for nonylphenol. Moreover, no response was observed with non-APnEO surfactants as well as other compounds structurally similar to APnEOs. The percentage river water recoveries of 85–118% were obtained for 10 μg/L NP10EO fortification after preconcentration by C18 solid-phase extraction. The ELISA was also validated by comparing it with high-performance liquid chromatography for the analysis of APnEOs and their metabolites in river samples; the correlation coefficient between the values obtained by these assays was 0.96.     

UV-VIS and FTIR spectroscopic analyses of inclusion complexes of nonylphenol and nonylphenol ethoxylate with β-cyclodextrin

A study of inclusion complexation of liquid non-ionic surfactants, nonylphenol (NP) and nonylphenol 9 mole ethoxylate (NP9EO), with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), was carried out by mass spectrometry, surface tension, and ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies. The inclusion complexation was effectuated by heating at 80 °C and filtration of aqueous NP + β-CD and NP9EO + β-CD suspensions. The mass spectrometry and surface tension measurements revealed that NP and NP9EO form inclusion complexes with β-CD and β-CD possesses a higher affinity for NP. These results are supported by the data from UV-VIS spectroscopic analyses that have indicated that a three times greater amount of NP is entrapped into β-CD than NP9EO. This phenomenon has been associated with the smaller size and a higher degree of hydrophobicity of NP that favours its entrapment into β-CD as compared to that of NP9EO. At the structural level, the data from FTIR spectroscopic study have indicated that alkyl chains of NP and NP9EO can form van der Waals interactions with the cavity of β-CD. Moreover, NP and NP9EO seem to cause a reorganization of the intramolecular hydrogen bonds and change of the hydration of β-CD, but did not appear to strongly interact with C-C, C-O-C, and OH groups of β-CD. Together these results suggest that the formation of inclusion complexes by NP and NP9EO with β-CD molecules could constitute an effective and advantageous technique to remove liquid non-ionic surfactants from wastewater due to the non-toxic character of β-CD to humans and the environment.     

Occurrence and risk assessment of nonylphenol and nonylphenol ethoxylates in sewage sludge from different conventional treatment processes

In the present work, the concentrations of the organic pollutants nonylphenol (NP) and nonylphenol mono- and diethoxylates (NP1EO and NP2EO, respectively) in primary, secondary, mixed, aerobically-digested, anaerobically-digested, dehydrated, compost and lagoon sludge samples from different sludge treatments have been evaluated. Toxicological risk assessment of these compounds in sludge and sludge-amended soil has also been reported. NP, NP1EO and NP2EO were monitored in sludge samples obtained from treatment plants located in Andalusia (south of Spain) based on anaerobic treatments (11 anaerobic-digestion wastewater treatment plants and 3 anaerobic wastewater stabilization ponds) or on aerobic treatments (3 aerobic-digestion wastewater treatment plants, 1 dehydration treatment plant and 2 composting plants). The sum of NP, NP1EO and NP2EO (NPE) concentrations has been evaluated in relation to the limit value of 50 mg/kg set by the European Union Sludge Directive draft published in April 2000 (Working Document on Sludge). In most of the samples, NP was present at higher concentration levels (mean value 88.0 mg/kg dm) than NP1EO (mean value 33.8 mg/kg dm) and NP2EO (mean value 14.0 mg/kg dm). The most contaminated samples were compost, anaerobically-digested sludge, lagoon sludge and aerobically-digested sludge samples, which contained NPE concentrations in the ranges 44-962 mg/kg dm, 8-669 mg/kg dm, 27-319 mg/kg dm and 61-282 mg/kg dm, respectively. Risk quotients, expressed as the ratios between environmental concentrations and the predicted no-effect concentrations, were higher than 1 for NP, NP1EO and NP2EO in the 99%, 92% and 36% of the studied samples, respectively; and higher than 1 in the 86%, 6% and 2%, respectively, after sludge application to soil, leading to a significant ecotoxicological risk mainly due to the presence of NP.     

The effect of thermal hydrolysis pretreatment on the anaerobic degradation of nonylphenol and short-chain nonylphenol ethoxylates in digested biosolids

The presence of micropollutants can be a concern for land application of biosolids. Of particular interest are nonylphenol diethoxylate (NP₂EO), nonylphenol monoethoxylate (NP₁EO), and nonylphenol (NP), collectively referred to as NPE, which accumulate in anaerobically digested biosolids and are subject to regulation based on the environmental risks associated with them. Because biosolids are a valuable nutrient resource, it is essential that we understand how various treatment processes impact the fate of NPE in biosolids. Thermal hydrolysis (TH) coupled with mesophilic anaerobic digestion (MAD) is an advanced digestion process that destroys pathogens in biosolids and increases methane yields and volatile solids destruction. We investigated the impact of thermal hydrolysis pretreatment on the subsequent biodegradation of NPE in digested biosolids. Biosolids were treated with TH, anaerobic digestion, and aerobic digestion in laboratory-scale reactors, and NPE were analyzed in the influent and effluent of the digesters. NP₂EO and NP₁EO have been observed to degrade to the more estrogenic NP under anaerobic conditions; therefore, changes in the ratio of NP:NPE were of interest. The increase in NP:NPE following MAD was 56%; the average increase of this ratio in four sets of TH-MAD samples, however, was only 24.6 ± 3.1%. In addition, TH experiments performed in pure water verified that, during TH, the high temperature and pressure alone did not directly destroy NPE; TH experiments with NP added to sludge also showed that NP was not destroyed by the high temperature and pressure of TH when in a more complex sludge matrix. The post-aerobic digestion phases removed NPE, regardless of whether TH pretreatment occurred. This research indicates that changes in biosolids processing can have impacts beyond just gas production and solids destruction.     

Comparing steroid estrogen, and nonylphenol content across a range of European sewage plants with different treatment and management practices

The effluent of 17 sewage treatment works (STW) across Norway, Sweden, Finland, The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France and Switzerland was studied for the presence of estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), ethinylestradiol (EE2) and nonylphenol (NP). Treatment processes included primary and chemical treatment only, submerged aerated filter, oxidation ditch, activated sludge (AS) and combined trickling filter with activated sludge. The effluent strength ranged between 87 and 846 L/PE (population equivalent), the total hydraulic retention time (HRT) ranged between 4 and 120 h, sludge retention time (SRT) between 3 and 30 d, and water temperature ranged from 12 to 21 °C. The highest estrogen values were detected in the effluent of the STW which only used primary treatment (13 ng/L E2 and 35 ng/L E1) and on one occasion in one of the STW using the AS system (6.5 ng/L E2, 50.5 ng/L E1, but on three other occasions the concentrations in this STW were at least a factor of 6 lower). For the 16 STW employing secondary treatment E2 was only detected in the effluent of six works during the study period (average 0.7-5.7 ng/L). E1 was detected in the effluent of 13 of the same STW. The median value for E1 for the 16 STW with secondary treatment was 3.0 ng/L. EE2 was only detected in two STW (1.1, <0.8-2.8 ng/L). NP could be detected in the effluent of all 14 STW where this measurement was attempted, with a median of 0.31 μg/L and values ranging from 0.05 to 1.31 μg/L. A comparison of removal performance for E1 was carried out following prediction of the probable influent concentration. A weak but significant (α<5%) correlation between E1 removal and HRT or SRT was observed.     

Biodegradation of nonylphenoxy carboxylates mixtures in two microcosms

The environmental fate of nonylphenoxy carboxylates (NPECs), a representative class of aerobic biodegradation intermediates of nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEOs), is still unclear. In this study, two NPEC mixtures with the ethoxy chain units ranging from 2 to 9 and from 5 to 18, respectively, were synthesized and applied for studying their aerobic biodegradation behaviors in a modified OECD 301 biodegradation test using two kinds of microcosms, a fresh secondary effluent from a sewage treatment plant and a NPEOs enriched consortium. The determination of NPECs and their related compounds were performed by LC/MS. Degradation of NPECs occurred 4-7 days after the start up of tests with producing a concomitant of shorter chain NPECs. The long-chain NPECs mixture demonstrated a higher degradation rate than that of shorter ones. In comparison with the fresh secondary effluent system, the NPEOs enriched one showed a much slower NPECs degradation. No nonylphenol or NPEOs was detected during our survey. The results in this study could provide some useful information for the comprehensive understanding of the environmental fate of NPEOs.     

Reduction of endocrine disruptor emissions in the environment: The benefit of wastewater treatment

The occurrence and fate of four estrogens and five alkylphenolic compounds were studied in thirteen plants with various treatment processes, sizes and countries. Complete load mass balance, including water and sludge phases, has shown a high reduction of the total load of hormones, around 90%. The removal of alkylphenols was more variable, due to the degradation of nonylphenol (NP) precursors - alkylphenol polyethoxylates (APnEO) - during the treatment, resulting in significant production of shorter and toxic alkylphenols (NP and short polyethoxylates) that concentrate in the sludges. Under anaerobic conditions, such as anaerobic digestion process, the load of NP was in most cases observed to increase. When considering the environmental impact, the high reduction of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC) concentrations between raw wastewater and effluent enables to satisfy the requirements of the Water Framework Directive for NP except in very critical situations where the dilution factor of the effluent in the river would be lower than 7. For sludges, the pending European Directive on spreading of sludge on land would be complied with in all cases.     

Correlations of nonylphenol-ethoxylates and nonylphenol with biomarkers of reproductive function in carp (Cyprinus carpio) from the Cuyahoga River

Various chemical and biological measures were determined in carp (Cyprinus carpio) sampled from seven sites along the Cuyahoga River, Ohio; from the relatively pristine headwaters to the lower portion heavily polluted from various industrial, urban and wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). Levels of nonylphenol (NP), nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs; NP1EO, NP2EO) and total NPEs (NP plus the NPEs) in fish increased in a downstream direction, with maximal values observed below the discharge of the Akron WWTP. In female fish there were no significant differences between sites in GSI or levels of vitellogenin (VTG) and 17beta-estradiol (E2). However, differences were observed between sites using measures of 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) and the ratio E2/11-KT. In male fish the highest levels of VTG were observed downstream of the Akron WWTP and a significant correlation (r=85%) between levels of NP and VTG was demonstrated. No site differences were observed in the measures of GSI, E2, 11-KT or the E2/11-KT ratio in male fish. These data suggest that endocrine active chemicals, such as, NP and NPEs are impacting fish downstream of the Akron WWTP; however, further work is warranted to separate linkages to other possible chemical factors in the water.     

Sources and behaviour of bismuth active substances (BiAS) in a municipal sewage treatment plant

Non-ionic surfactants are widely used for household and industrial purposes. For different reasons the metabolites, e.g. 4-nonylphenol, nonylphenol monoethoxylate, nonylphenol diethoxylate and 4-tert-octylphenol, are especially considered to be endocrine disruptive and thus potentially harmful for the environment. In this study, field samples of raw wastewater from different point sources, including industrial effluents, household effluents, the influent and secondary effluent of a wastewater treatment plant that treats this wastewater were monitored simultaneously. Composite samples were taken five times over periods of 1 week at nine sample sites. The results showed that the concentrations and fluxes were varying. In addition industrial, influent and effluent samples were investigated for nonylphenol (NP). The highest concentrations of bismuth active substances (BiAS) were obtained by wastewater samples from a chemical and a cloth washing company ranging from 10,200 to 65,600 microg/l and 14,600 to 33,900 microg/l BiAS, respectively. Although the concentration of BiAS in the wastewater of the paper production was only between 460 and 1200 microg/l BiAS, the NP/BiAS ratio of 0.51% was considerably higher than in other industrial effluents. The BiAS concentration in wastewater samples from households ranged from 2200 to 7900 microg/l BiAS, but the NP concentration was quite low, 0.01% of BiAS. This could be due to the effort within the EU to phase out nonylphenol polyethoxylates in household detergents. Influent concentrations between 700 and 2200 microg/l BiAS with removal rates in the WWTP ranging from 70.7 to 99.4% with an average of 92.2% could be measured.     

Fate and removal of selected endocrine‐disrupting compounds in sewage using activated sludge treatment

The variation and fate of four endocrine‐disrupting compounds (EDCs) composed of 4‐n‐nonylphenol (4‐n‐NP), bisphenol A (BPA), 17β‐estradiol (E2) and 17α‐ethinylestradiol (EE2) were investigated along treatment units in a sewage treatment plant (STP), China with anaerobic, anoxic and aerobic activated sludge processes. The mean concentrations were 64.8 ng/L (E2), 115.3 ng/L (4‐n‐NP), 171.5 ng/L (EE2), and 920.7 ng/L (BPA) in the influents, and 22.8 ng/L (E2), 50.9 ng/L (4‐n‐NP), 49.9 ng/L (EE2), and 84.3 ng/L (BPA) in the effluents. The biological treatment was more effective in removing NP, BPA and E2 from the aqueous phase than the primary treatment, while the latter could effectively remove EE2. Their possible removal mechanisms during the biological treatment with activated sludge were further explored through spiked batch experiments under three oxygen‐supplying conditions (anaerobic, anoxic and aerobic). The batch experiments showed that 4‐n‐NP, E2 and BPA were removed from the aqueous phase through biodegradation. The combination of sludge sorption and biodegradation accounted for the removal of EE2. Anoxic activated sludge showed the most rapid degradation of 4‐n‐NP, while E2 could be removed most effectively by aerobic activated sludge, and sludge sorption had a remarkable effect on its removal within the initial 15 min of the experiments under three oxygen‐supplying conditions.     

Removal of the endocrine disrupter nonylphenol and its estrogenic activity in sludge treatment processes

The estrogenic compound nonylphenol (NP) is frequently found in sludge from sewage treatment works. Hence, when sewage sludge is spread on the land, endocrine-disrupting compounds may get into the soil. The goal of this study was to investigate the extent to which aerobic mesophilic treatment in continuous reactors permits the removal of NP from sludge and how this process may be useful for treating anaerobically stabilised sludge. We also report on the behaviour of NP during the anaerobic treatment of sludge. The reduction in sludge estrogenic activity observed in the different types of treatment, as measured using estrogen-responsive reporter cells lines (MELN bioassay), was compared with NP removal rates. Under anaerobic conditions, no degradation of NP and its estrogenic activity was observed. Indeed, an accumulation of the compound occurred. In contrast, high removal of NP was achieved in aerobic conditions as well as in aerobic Post-treatment of anaerobically pre-digested sludge, with a concomitant reduction of the sludge's estrogenic potency.     

Profiles of short chain oligomers in roach (Rutilus rutilus) exposed to waterborne polyethoxylated nonylphenols

Nonylphenol polyethoxylates (NPEOs) are common contaminants in the aquatic environment through their use as industrial surfactants and their discharge in wastewaters and effluents. In order to assess the bioavailability of NPEOs to fish, we studied the fate of two different oligomeric mixtures of NPEOs in adult roach Rutilus rutilus. Fish were exposed to [14C] radiolabelled NPEOs, averaging either 3 ethoxy units (NP(3av)EO) or 7 ethoxy units (NP(7av)EO), over a 4-day period in a flow-through aquarium. A method was developed to extract radioactive residues from soft tissues and analyse their composition by normal phase radio-HPLC and GC-MS. Radioactive residues were detected in all soft tissues of the roach dosed with either of the test mixtures, but the concentration of NPEO residues in each tissue were highest in fish exposed to the NP(3av)EO compared with the NP(7av)EO test mixture. Radioactive concentrations in roach dosed with 14C NP(3av)EO were highest in the bile at a mean concentration+/-S.E. of 62+/-3 microg/g wet weight, whereas concentrations in the liver, kidney and brain tissues ranged between 1 and 2 microg/g and concentrations in other soft tissues were between 0.1 and 0.7 microg/g. Analysis of the radioactive residues in bile of roach exposed to the NPEO test mixtures indicated that they were mainly metabolites including glucuronide conjugates, whereas in muscle, ovary and gill tissues they were a mixture of NP and short chain NPEO oligomers comprising 1-4 ethoxy units. This study suggests that short chain NPEO oligomers are taken up via the gills and accumulate in tissues such as gonads which are sensitive to endocrine disruption, whereas waterborne NPEOs containing more than 4 ethoxymers are not bioavailable to roach.     

Temporal trends of nonylphenol and bisphenol A contamination in the Pearl River Estuary and the adjacent South China Sea recorded by dated sedimentary cores

Three dated sedimentary cores were collected for the investigation of temporal trends and the environmental loadings of nonylphenol (NP) and bisphenol A (BPA) in recent decades in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE), South China and the adjacent South China Sea (SCS). The peak fluxes of NP and BPA occurred in the mid-1980s in the PRE, coincident with the rapid economic growth in China. The decline of NP and BPA fluxes is attributable to the implementation of sewage treatment in the late 1980s in the Pearl River Delta (PRD). Multi-model distributions were observed for the fluxes of NP and BPA in the SCS with the peak fluxes occurring in the late 1950s and the mid-1970s respectively. The fluxes of NP and BPA have increased since the 1990s due to the lack of adequate wastewater treatment facilities and the constant economic growth. Nonylphenol was quantifiably detected in sediments predating its widespread application (1940s), suggesting the downward penetration of NP in the sediment columns. The characterization results revealed that NP and BPA were preserved well and the isomer-selective degradation of NP did not occur significantly in the sediment cores. The environmental loadings of NP and BPA in the PRE sediments were roughly estimated to be 124 t and 1.7 t respectively over the past 30 years.     

Phthalates and nonylphenols in urban runoff: Occurrence, distribution and area emission factors

The urban water system is believed to be an important sink for the nonpoint-source pollutants nonylphenols and phthalates. The presence of nonylphenols (NPs), nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEOs), and eight phthalates was analyzed in urban stormwater and sediment from three catchment areas in Sweden. Emission loads for these substances were then calculated for a specific urban catchment area. In addition, substance distribution in road runoff passing through a sedimentation facility was modeled using a modified QWASI-model for chemical fate. High concentrations of DEHP, DIDP and DINP (≤ 48, 66 and 200 µg/g dw, respectively) as well as nonylphenol mono- and di-ethoxylate (6.6 and 20 µg/g dw, respectively) were found in the sediment. Aqueous concentrations of the pollutants varied considerably; branched NP was detected in concentrations up to 1.2 µg/L, whereas di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), and diisononyl phthalate (DINP) were the most frequently detected phthalates in concentrations up to 5.0, 17 and 85 µg/L, respectively. The fate modeling demonstrated that predicted substance levels in water agreed well with measured levels, whereas the modeled sediment levels were underestimated. Calculation of catchment area emission factors from an urban highway environment revealed that as much as 2.1 kg of total phthalates and 200 g of NP and NPEOs may be emitted per hectare and year. The results indicate that all monitored phthalates, branched NPs and lower NPEOs are present in Swedish urban water systems. The long-chain phthalates DIDP and DINP are believed to occur at higher concentrations than other phthalates because of their higher environmental persistence and their increasing use in Sweden.     

The biodegradability of two primary alcohol ethoxylate nonionic surfactants under practical conditions,and the toxicity of the biodegradation products to rainbow trout

A field trial has been performed to measure the biodegradability of two typical alcohol ethoxylate nonionic surfactants, “Dobanol” 45-7 and “Dobanol” 45-11, by dosing them to biological filters in a mixture with domestic sewage. Influent levels were 10 and 25 mg l^?1 of each surfactant and 96–98% degradation was achieved within a temperature range of 5–10°C. The surfactants had no adverse effects on the filters in terms of the usual sanitary parameters (BOD, COD, TOC and ammoniacal nitrogen). Tests on the effluents indicated no residual acute lethal toxicity to rainbow trout Salmo gairdneri).     

Comparative study of electrochemical degradation and ozonation of nonylphenol

Treatment of solutions of nonylphenol (NP), Triton X-100 (TrX) and phenol in a flow-through undivided EC reactor equipped with a Co(2+)-promoted PbO(2) anode and a stainless steel cathode was accompanied by consistent changes of absorbance, fluorescence and mass spectra of the effluents, and formation of aldehydes ranging from formaldehyde to decyl aldehyde. Deconvolution of the absorbance spectra of EC-treated NP, TrX and phenol and examination of their fluorescence indicated that the compounds are rapidly degraded in the reactor. For NP, the degradation of the target proceeded via the generation (at current densities <25mA/cm(2)) of benzoquinone intermediates that yielded peaks with m/z ratios 223, 227, 235, and 241D in the mass spectra. Their breakdown at current densities >10mA/cm(2) was accompanied by the release of aldehydes that were predominated by acetaldehyde and formaldehyde. The total yield of aldehydes increased with the current density, but their speciation showed little sensitivity to it. Deconvolution of the absorbance spectra of NP solutions subjected to ozonation, and analysis for reaction by-products formed in these conditions showed the reaction pathway in the latter case was likely to be similar to that observed for the EC treatment.