Fate of four Different Classes of Chemicals Under Aerobic and Anaerobic Conditions in Biological Wastewater Treatment

The removal mechanisms and extent of degradation 28 chemicals (triclosan, fifteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, four estrogens, eight polybrominated diphenyl ether congeners) in different biological treatment systems [activated sludge, up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor (UASB) waste stabilization pond (WSP)] was investigated to provide insights into the limits engineered systems. This done through experiments with inhibition abiotic controls static reactors under aerobic conditions. Estrogens showed higher first order rates (0.1129 h −1 ) conditions activated inocula followed by low molecular weight (LMW) PAHs (0.0171 ), triclosan (0.0072 middle (MMW) (0.0054 high (HMW) (0.0033 ). same trend observed a facultative inoculum from WSP, although at much slower rate. Biodegradation major mechanism for these WSP WWTPs surveyed. Photodegradation also varied across group (estrogens (light rate = 0.4296 d ; dark 0.3900 degraded faster light while reverse case 0.0566 0.1752 Additionally, all were resistant UASB which implies that their surveyed WWTP most likely via sorption onto solids. Importantly, determined this study used estimate predicted effluent concentrations (PECs). PECs good agreement measured previous