Tracking pollutants in a municipal sewage network impairing the operation of a wastewater treatment plant

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2022

Authors

Sa, MFT (Author) Other; Castro, V (Author) Other; Gomes, AI (Author) Other; Morais, DFS (Author) Other; Braga, RVPSS (Author) Other; Saraiva, I (Author) Other; Souza Chaves, BM (Author) Other; Park, M (Author) Other; Fernandez Fernandez, V (Author) Other; Rodil, R (Author) Other; Montes, R (Author) Other; Quintana, JB (Author) Other; Vitor Vilar (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Science of the Total Environment

Vol. 817

ISSN: 0048-9697

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 0 Citations

Associated Projects

Healthy Waters - Healthy Waters - Identification, Elimination, Social Awareness and Education of Water Chemical and Biological Micropollutants with Health and Environmental Implications

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00W-04W

DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152518

Abstract (EN): This work provides a screening of organic contaminants and characterization of the dissolved organic matter in the sewer network until the municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), identifying the network areas with a higher degree of contamination and their impact on the WWTP performance, particularly in the activated sludge reactor. Three monitoring campaigns were carried out at six selected locations of the sewage system (PVZ-1, PVZ-2, PS-F, PS-VC, CP-VC, and PS-T), influent (WWTPINF) and effluent (WWTPEFF) of the WWTP. Advanced analytical techniques were employed, namely excitation/emission matrix fluorescence-parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC), size exclu-sion chromatography with organic carbon detector (SEC-OCD), and liquid chromatography with high-resolution-mass spectrometric detection (LC-HRMS). EEM-PARAFAC showed higher fluorescence intensity for the protein-like compo-nent (C2), particularly at CP-VC (near seafood industries) associated with the presence of surfactants (similar to 50 mg/L). SEC-OCD highlighted the WWTP efficiency in removing low molecular weight acids and neutrals. LC-HRMS tentatively identified 108 compounds of emerging concern (CEC) and similar detection patterns were obtained for all wastewater samples, except for PVZ-2 (lower detection), many of which occurred in the effluent. Eight CECs included on relevant Watch-Lists were detected in all WWTPEFF samples. Furthermore, 111 surfactants were detected, the classes more fre-quently found being alcohol ethoxylates (AEOs), nonylphenol polyethoxylates (NPEOs) and linear alkylbenzene sulphonates (LAS). The continuous presence of LAS and NPEOs allied to surfactants concentrations in the WWTPINF of 15-20 mg/L, with CP-VC location (linked with food industries) as an important contributor, explain the morphological changes in the activated sludge and high LAS content in the dewatered sludge, which may have impacted WWTP per-formance.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 12