Activated sludge biodegradation of 12 commercial phthalate esters.
The activated sludge biodegradability of 12 commercial phthalate esters was evaluated in two test systems: (i) a semicontinuous activated sludge test and (ii) an acclimated 19-day die-away procedure. Both procedures demonstrated that phthalate esters are rapidly biodegraded under activated sludge conditions when loss of the parent phthalate ester (primary degradation) is measured.
O'grady
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Life and Environmental Sciences Division, Syracuse Research Corporation, Syracuse New York 13210, and Monsanto Polymer Products Company, St. Louis, Missouri 63167.
Howard
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Werner
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