Behaviour and biodegradation of sulfonamides (p-TSA, o-TSA, BSA) during drinking water treatment.
Three sulfonamides -para-toluenesulfonamide (p-TSA), ortho-toluenesulfonamide (o-TSA) and benzenesulfonamide (BSA) - have recently been detected in groundwater within a catchment area of one drinking water treatment plant (DWTP), which is located downstream of a former sewage farm. The degradation pathways of p-TSA, o-TSA and BSA were investigated during drinking water treatment with incubation experiments and an experimental filter. Incubation experiments showed that p-TSA is removed during the treatment by microbiological processes. Removal of p-TSA is performed by adapted microorganisms only present in polluted groundwater. The elimination in an experimental filter of 1.6m length applying filtration velocities from 2 to 6 m h(-1) was approximately 93% of p-TSA. The microbial degradation rates in the incubation experiment were approximately 0.029 microg l(-1) h(-1) (zero order reaction). In the experimental filter, the reaction rate constants were around 0.0063 s(-1) for all filtration velocities (1st order reaction). Drinking water treatment does not reduce the concentration of o-TSA and BSA under conditions encountered in Berlin. p-TSA, o-TSA and BSA were only measured in the low microg l(-1) concentrations range in the purified water.
Richter
Doreen
D
Institute of Geological Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, Malteserstrasse 74-100, 12249 Berlin, Germany. Richter-Doreen@gmx.de
Massmann
Gudrun
G
Dünnbier
Uwe
U
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014050:Toluene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014881:Water Supply; D000096926:Benzenesulfonamides
D013449:Sulfonamides; D014050:Toluene; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D000096926:Benzenesulfonamides; C025417:4-toluenesulfonamide; C013307:2-toluenesulfonamide