Influence of Selected Organic Micropollutants on Organisms

This article describes the toxicity of organic micropollutants on tested microorganisms. Itis a current issue because organic micropollutants are identified in all elements of environmental (surface water, ground water, soils) and in food products. The organic micropollutants include: polychlorinated dibenzodioxyns PCDD, polychlorinated dibenzofurans PCDF, polychlorinated biphenyls PCB, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons PAH, halogenated compounds and by-products of water treatment. Some organic compounds cause hazard for health and human life due to their estrogenic biological activity, carcinogenic, mutagenic or teratogenic activity. The influence on organisms indicators of these compounds based on literature data were presented. The level of TEQ (toxic equivalency) in response to organic chlorine derivatives (PCDDs, PCDF, PCBs) is usually determined by toxic equivalency factor (TEF). The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies organic micropollutants as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1), possibly carcinogenic (Group 2A) or probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B)

Characteristics of Petroleum Compounds and their Removal from the Aquatic Environment

The aim of the study was to characterize the components of crude oil, with particular emphasis on those that have a toxic effect on organisms, and to describe the sources of pollution and the methodology for determining these compounds in aqueous solutions. In addition, the study presents the legal provisions in the field of petroleum compounds and practical methods for their removal in the event of uncontrolled emission of these compounds into the aquatic environment as well as methods used in the treatment of wastewater loaded with these compounds

Stability of Selected PAHs in Sewage Sludge/ Stabilność Wybranych Wwa W Osadach Ściekowych

Celem badań była ocena trwałości WWA w warunkach składowania poprzez wyznaczenie czasu połowicznego rozpadu. Określono zmiany ilościowe WWA w osadach przechowywanych w warunkach tlenowych przez 12 tygodni. W tych samych warunkach pozostawały także osady, w których zahamowano aktywność mikroorganizmów poprzez dodatek azydku sodu. Ilościową analizę WWA prowadzono z wykorzystaniem zestawu GC-MS w odstępach 2-tygodniowych równolegle w osadach biotycznych i abiotycznych. Oznaczano pięć WWA (fluoren, fenentren, antracen, fluoranten, piren), które znajdują się wśród 16 związków podanych na liście EPA. Osady pobrano dwukrotnie z oczyszczalni ścieków komunalnych, które w praktyce kierowane są na składowisko. Zawartość początkowa WWA w osadach była na poziomie 346μg/kg.s.m. W warunkach prowadzonego eksperymentu czas połowicznego rozkładu był zróżnicowany dla poszczególnych związków. W osadach aktywnych biologicznie czas połowicznego rozpadu badanych węglowodorów był w granicach od 19 do 368 dób. Czas połowicznego rozpadu wyznaczony dla WWA w osadach nieaktywnych biologicznie pozostawał w zakresie od 31 do 2961 dób

Characteristics of Petroleum Compounds and their Removal from the Aquatic Environment

The aim of the study was to characterize the components of crude oil, with particular emphasis on those that have a toxic effect on organisms, and to describe the sources of pollution and the methodology for determining these compounds in aqueous solutions. In addition, the study presents the legal provisions in the field of petroleum compounds and practical methods for their removal in the event of uncontrolled emission of these compounds into the aquatic environment as well as methods used in the treatment of wastewater loaded with these compounds

Catalytic Oxidation of Pahs in Wastewater / Katalityczne Utlenianie Wwa w Ściekach

The aim of the investigations was to determine the effectiveness of the removal of 4, 5 - ring PAHs from coking wastewater using dihydrogen dioxide in the presence of a cobalt, platinum or titanium catalyst. A dose 7.4 mL of dihydrogen dioxide in the amount of and 14.8 mL/L of the analyzed sample were added to the samples. The samples were shaken and stored under laboratory conditions for 12 hours. The concentration of PAHs before and after the oxidation process were determined. The quantitative and qualitative chromatographic analysis was carried out using a gas chromatograph coupled with a mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The total concentration of 8 PAHs before oxidation reached the value of 9150 ng/L The concentration of 4-ring compounds and 5-ring PAHs were equal to 6390 ng/L and 2760 ng/L, respectively. The highest decrease (93%) the sum of 8 hydrocarbons using a dose of oxidizer 7.4 ml/L and in the presence of titanium catalyst was achieved

The Coagulant Type Influence on Removal Efficiency of 5- and 6-Ring Pahs During Water Coagulation Process

The article presents results on investigation of the removal efficiency of selected 5- and 6-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[j]fluoranthene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, dibenzo[a,h]anthracene) from water during coagulation and sedimentation process. Two pre-hydrolyzed aluminum coagulants: PAX XL 19H and FLOKOR 105V were chosen for research. Process was carried out at optimum process parameters: rapid-mixing - 3 min at the rotational speed of 200 rpm, slow mixing - 10 min at 30 rpm, sedimentation - 60 min. The removal effectiveness was dependant on coagulant type and its composition. Better results in the removal of 5-and 6-ring PAHs were obtained after application of FLOKOR 105V (lower aluminum content) than after using PAX XL 19H

Sediments Contamination with Organic Micropollutants: Current State and Perspectives

This study focused on the sediment contamination with some organic micropollutants based on the monitoring data together with available literature in Poland. The following persistent organic pollutants (POPs): polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and chlorinated pesticides (CP) were characterized in sediments with respect to current legislations in force. Based on accessible data, higher PAHs, PCBs and CP concentrations were found in river sediments than in lake sediments. Especially, sediments of the Oder River and its tributary in the southern part of Poland, were highly polluted. In order to minimize the risk of the secondary pollution of surface waters, it is necessary to introduce consolidated management system with sediments proceeding. Furthermore, it is also of great importance to elaborate specific regulations concerning conditions of sediments management

Photo-oxidation of PAHs with calcium peroxide as a source of the hydroxyl radicals

The efficiency of the removal of selected PAHs from the pretreated coking wastewater with usage of CaO2, Fenton reagent (FeSO4) and UV rays are presented in this article. The investigations were carried out using coking wastewater originating from biological, industrial wastewater treatment plant. At the beginning of the experiment, the calcium peroxide (CaO2) powder as a source of hydroxyl radicals (OH•) and Fenton reagent were added to the samples of wastewater. Then, the samples were exposed to UV rays for 360 s. The process was carried out at pH 3.5-3.8. After photo-oxidation process a decrease in the PAHs concentration was observed. The removal efficiency of selected hydrocarbons was in the ranged of 89-98%. The effectiveness of PAHs degradation was directly proportional to the calcium peroxide dose

Treatment and Utilization of the Concentrate from Membrane Separation Processes of Landfill Leachates

The purpose of the paper was to assess the effectiveness of selected physico-chemical processes to improve the quality of retentates/concentrates obtained during the treatment of landfill leachates using membrane separation. Among the physico-chemical methods, Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) and electrocoagulation were analysed. Landfill leachate resulting from the infiltration of waste mass by atmospheric precipitation as well as the dissolution and leaching of waste components are most often subjected to membrane separation. Permeate is usually discharged to the receiver, while the concentrate is recirculated and sprinkled on a waste pile. However, such action is only the retention of impurities in the body of the landfill and has an impact on the chemistry of raw leachates. Due to the very high concentrations of organic and inorganic compounds identified in the retentate, it is necessary to treat it, which will effectively reduce the amount of impurities in the leachate. Economic use seems to be another solution. An example would be growing energy crops but such application requires additional research

State of the Art in Technologies of the Biogas Production Increasing During Methane Digestion of Sewage Sludge

At present many WWTPs are focused on increasing quantity of biogas generated during sewage sludge processing. Various disintegration methods can be used for this purpose - thermal heating, ultrasonic disintegration, chemical treatment. The limiting step in sewage sludge digestion is hydrolysis, increasing the rate of this process allows for shortening solids retention time in digester, increasing soluble COD concentration in the reject water and as a result also biogas production. In technical scale ultrasonic and thermal disintegration are used. The most effective are ultrasounds below 100 Hz. In thermal conditioning various technological parameters are applied (from 60 - 80 °C to even 250°C, retention times from 15 min. to 2 hours). Effectiveness of the processes can be increased by using combined processes, e.g. thermal treatment and chemical stabilization. Chemical methods are at present mainly applied in laboratory scale. They include alkaline and acidic pretreatment or advanced chemical oxidation methods