title: Can activated sludge treatments and advanced oxidation processes remove organophosphorus flame retardants?
abstract: This study aims to determine the occurrence of 10 OPFRs (including chlorinated, nonchlorinated alkyl and aryl compounds) in influent, effluent wastewaters and partitioning into sludge of 5 wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) in Catalonia (Spain). All target OPFRs were detected in the WWTPs influents, and the total concentration ranged from 3.67 µg L(-1) to 150 µg L(-1). During activated sludge treatment, most OPFRs were accumulated in the sludge at concentrations from 35.3 to 9980 ng g(-1) dw. Chlorinated compounds tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP) and tris(2,3-dichloropropyl) phosphate (TDCPP) were not removed by the conventional activated sludge treatment and they were released by the effluents at approximately the same inlet concentration. On the contrary, aryl compounds tris(methylphenyl) phosphate (TMPP) and 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDP) together with alkyl tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEHP) were not detected in any of the effluents. Advanced oxidation processes (UV/H2O2 and O3) were applied to investigate the degradability of recalcitrant OPFRs in WWTP effluents. Those detected in the effluent sample (TCEP, TCIPP, TDCPP, tributyl phosphate (TNBP), tri-iso-butyl phosphate (TIBP) and tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP)) had very low direct UV-C photolysis rates. TBOEP, TNBP and TIBP were degraded by UV/H2O2 and O3. Chlorinated compounds TCEP, TDCPP and TCIPP were the most recalcitrant OPFR to the advanced oxidation processes applied. The study provides information on the partitioning and degradability pathways of OPFR within conventional activated sludge WWTPs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18-2, 08034 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cristale
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Av. Senador Filinto Muller, 1555, CP 549, CEP 79074-460 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Dayana D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University de Barcelona, Marti i Franques 1, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; School of Technology, University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Paschoal Marmo 1888, 13484-332 Limeira, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renato F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Dantas
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Av. Senador Filinto Muller, 1555, CP 549, CEP 79074-460 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Amilcar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Machulek Junior
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18-2, 08034 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lacorte
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University de Barcelona, Marti i Franques 1, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Carme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sans
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University de Barcelona, Marti i Franques 1, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Esplugas
mesh_terms: D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000528:radiation effects; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010126:Ozone / Q000737:chemistry*; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D005411:Flame Retardants; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D010126:Ozone; D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Advanced oxidation process; Emerging contaminants; Flame retardants; Sewage sludge