title: Fate of PCBs, PAHs and their source characteristic ratios during composting and digestion of source-separated organic waste in full-scale plants.
abstract: Composting and digestion are important waste management strategies. However, the resulting products can contain significant amounts of organic pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In this study we followed the concentration changes of PCBs and PAHs during composting and digestion on field-scale for the first time. Concentrations of low-chlorinated PCBs increased during composting (about 30%), whereas a slight decrease was observed for the higher chlorinated congeners (about 10%). Enantiomeric fractions of atropisomeric PCBs were essentially racemic and stable over time. Levels of low-molecular-weight PAHs declined during composting (50-90% reduction), whereas high-molecular-weight compounds were stable. The PCBs and PAHs concentrations did not seem to vary during digestion. Source apportionment by applying characteristic PAH ratios and molecular markers in input material did not give any clear results. Some of these parameters changed considerably during composting. Hence, their diagnostic potential for finished compost must be questioned.
authors.affiliation: Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon Research Station ART, Analytical Chemistry, Reckenholzstrasse 191, CH-8046 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Rahel C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Brändli
authors.forename: Thomas D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Bucheli
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kupper
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Franz X
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Stadelmann
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tarradellas
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis / Q000502:physiology; D000693:Anaerobiosis / Q000502:physiology; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D008970:Molecular Weight; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D014866:Waste Products / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014866:Waste Products; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls