title: Loading and removal of PAHs in a wastewater treatment plant in a separated sewer system.
abstract: The loading and removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured and estimated in a wastewater treatment plant in a separated sewer system in a suburban area of Japan. The influent 16 PAHs concentration was 219 ± 210 ng L(-1), whereas the effluent concentration was 43.5 ± 42.5 ng L(-1) (mean ± sd). No clear diurnal or weekly fluctuation was observed. However, evaluation of long-term changes revealed PAH fluctuations continuing for more than 1 week. Half of the PAHs (63%) were biologically or chemically transformed, or vaporized in the treatment plant, while the remainder were discharged with effluent (28%) and excess sludge (9%). Measurement of the per capita loading of the treatment plant revealed values of 142 ± 53 and 28 ± 11 μg person(-1)day(-1) (mean ± 95% confidence interval) for influent and effluent, respectively. Isomer ratio analysis revealed that the PAHs originated from a mixture of petroleum, petroleum combustion, and burning of biomass residues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hiroshima University, 1-4-1 Kagamiyama, Higashihiroshima 739-8527, Japan. Electronic address: ojaki@hiroshima-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Noriatsu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ozaki
authors.affiliation: Nippon Koei Co., Ltd., 5-4 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8539, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takamura
authors.affiliation: Shimizu Co., 2-16-1 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-8370, Japan.
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kojima
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hiroshima University, 1-4-1 Kagamiyama, Higashihiroshima 739-8527, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomonori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kindaichi
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D010578:Petroleum / Q000032:analysis; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012621:Seasons; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry*; D013997:Time Factors; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D010578:Petroleum; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: PAHs; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Separated sewer system; Wastewater treatment plant