ANALYTICAL EXTRACTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL REMOVAL OF ALKYLBENZENE SULFONATES, NONYLPHENOL AND NONYLPHENOL MONOETHOXYLATE FROM DATED SLUDGE-ONLY LANDFILLS

Exhaustive extraction of linear (LAS) and branched (TPS) alkylbenzene sulphonates, nonylphenol (NP) and nonylphenol monoethoxylate (NP1EO) from landfilled sludge were attained by using a polar solvent (methanol) and by adding sodium hydroxide (20%, w/w) to the dry sludge. In the absence of NaOH, or if moderately polar (dichloromethane) to apolar (hexane) solvents were used, poor extraction efficiencies ( 90%) over the same time period. The remarkably different behaviour of these compounds was ascribed to the landfill operating conditions, to be anaerobic when no biodegradation was observed, and aerobic when the title compounds were removed.Exhaustive extraction of linear (LAS) and branched (TPS) alkylbenzene sulphonates, nonylphenol (NP) and nonylphenol monoethoxylate (NP1EO) from landfilled sludge were attained by using a polar solvent (methanol) and by adding sodium hydroxide (20%, w/w) to the dry sludge. In the absence of NaOH, or if moderately polar (dichloromethane) to apolar (hexane) solvents were used, poor extraction efficiencies ( 90%) over the same time period. The remarkably different behaviour of these compounds was ascribed to the landfill operating conditions, to be anaerobic when no biodegradation was observed, and aerobic when the title compounds were removed