Title: The fate and behaviour of organic micropollutants during wastewater treatment processes: a review

Authors: N.C. Meakins, J.M. Bubb, J.N. Lester

Addresses: Environmental and Water Resource Engineering Section, Department of Civil Engineering, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London SW7 2BU, UK. ' Environmental and Water Resource Engineering Section, Department of Civil Engineering, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London SW7 2BU, UK. ' Environmental and Water Resource Engineering Section, Department of Civil Engineering, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London SW7 2BU, UK

Abstract: The fate and behaviour of selected insecticides, herbicides, and polychlorinated biphenyls during primary sedimentation and secondary biological treatment of waste water are evaluated. The physico-chemical properties (chemical structure, aqueous solubility, octanol/water partition coefficient and Henry|s Law constant) of these compounds which dictate the extent and mechanism of their removal from the waste water are assessed along with the effect of process operating conditions. The degree of organic micropollutant removal by adsorption onto solids, biological and chemical degradation or volatilisation determines their distribution and concentration in sewage sludges and final effluents. The implications of sludge disposal and sewage effluent discharges, containing persistent contaminants, to receiving environments is also discussed.

Keywords: activated sludge; adsorption; anaerobic sludge digestion; biological degradation; chemical degradation; herbicides; insecticides; organic micropollutants; polychlorinated biphenyls; primary sedimentation; volatilization; wastewater treatment.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.1994.028424

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 1994 Vol.4 No.1/2, pp.27 - 58

Published online: 17 Sep 2009 *

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