Current trends and advances in analytical techniques for the characterization and quantification of biologically recalcitrant organic species in sludge and wastewater: A review

The study of organic matter in wastewater is a major regulatory and environmental issue requires new developments to identify non-biodegradable refractory compounds, produced mainly by thermal treatments. Recent advances linking physicochemical properties spectroscopic analyzes (UV, Fluorescence, IR) have shown that the property favored several parameters: weight, hydrophobicity, aromaticity chemical functions. Currently, most effective for quantification compounds are obtained with hyphenated methods, based on steric separation macromolecular species exclusion chromatography (SEC)/PDA/Fluorescence systems. Hyphenated techniques using High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS), ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometry Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR MS) NMR been developed analyze macromolecules minor sample preparation procedures. A particular class has identified, melanoidins, generated Maillard reactions between sugars, amino acids, peptides proteins present sludge, but low molecular weight formed as intermediates, such ketones, aldehydes, pyrazines, pyridines or furans, also recalcitrant complex matrices. lack available standards these use specific data processing. Advances chemometrics development indices resulting from analytical detectors, calculated SUVA254 determined UV, fluorescence, molar mass, H/C ratio structural studies (measuring amount unsaturated carbon) given SEC. It clear nitrogen widely involved refractoriness. New trends containing characterization follow two axes: through SEC/PDA/Fluorescence HRMS/NMR without separation. Other used food marine science being imported this study, it can be seen “omics” high-performance thin layer (HPTLC) at critical condition, rounding out important around While improving performance stationary phases one challenges, results fundamental understanding retention mechanisms today provide us more information structures identified. main objective review qualify characterize refractoriness focus chemometric approaches.