Chromatographic determination of aliphatic hydrocarbons and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a sewage sludge (original) (raw)
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Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Sewage Sludge from Cluj-Napoca Wastewater Treatment Plant
2016
Abstract. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are organic compounds widely distributed in the environment. In the present work, concentrations of these organic compounds in sludge samples from Cluj-Napoca wastewater treatment plant are reported. The objective was to investigate PAHs in sludge from wastewater treatment plant and to assess their potential for land application. Primary sludge, fermented sludge, fermented concentrated sludge, anaerobic-digested dehydrated sludge and rejection water samples were collected monthly from December 2012. Ultrasonic assisted extraction with hexane was used, being followed by filtration and concentration to dryness in a rotary evaporator; the obtained residue was redisolved in acetonitrile. High performance liquid chromatographic analysis was achieved using an Agilent 1100 system consisting in a solvent degasser, a quaternary pumping system, an autosampler, a column oven, a diode-array detector and a fluorescence detector. Separations were ...
Analyzing hydrocarbons in sewer to help in PAH source apportionment in sewage sludges
Chemosphere, 2009
A multi-molecular approach for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) source apportionment in sewage sludge was tested. Three simple catchment areas with corresponding wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) were chosen. Sewage sludges of these WWTPs chronically exceeded the French guide values for PAHs. Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons were quantified in sediments or wastewater suspended particulate matter sampled in different locations of the sewer as well as in sewage sludge. Various molecular indices including PAH ratios were calculated. The results showed that the ratios calculated from sewage sludge analyses provided a rather unspecific hydrocarbon fingerprint where combustion input appear as the main PAH sources. The complexity of the inputs as well as degradation occurring during wastewater treatment prevent any detailed diagnosis. Coupled to the analyses of samples collected in the sewer, the multi-molecular approach becomes more efficient especially for the identification of specific petroleum inputs such as fuel or used lubricating oils which can be important PAH sources. Indeed, the sampling in the sewer allows a spatial screening of the hydrocarbon inputs and facilitates the PAH source apportionment by avoiding the dilution of specific inputs with the whole wastewater inputs and by limiting the degradation of the molecular fingerprint that could occur during transfer and treatment in the WWTP. Then, the combination of PAH ratios and aliphatic distribution analyses is a very valuable approach that can help in sewer and WWTP management.
The Concentration of Mild-Extracted Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Sewage Sludges
Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A- Toxic/Hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering, 2004
The present study evaluates the content of the mild-solvent extracted fraction of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Ten compounds from the US EPA list (phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, chryzene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[ghi]perylene oraz indeno[1,2,3cd]pyrene) were chosen. The compounds were extracted with n-butanol from 11 sewage sludges that differed both in the total PAH content and in their physicochemical properties. On the basis of the results obtained, the influence of the properties of the PAH and some properties of selected sludge on the content of the mild-solvent extracted fractions of these compounds was determined. The content of the fraction extracted with n-butanol within the total of 10 PAHs ranged from 12.5 to 83.2% (mean 40.1%) depending on the type of sludge. Similarly, as in the case of the total of the 10 PAHs, significant differences in the content of PAHs extracted with n-butanol were also noted for the individual compounds studied. In the case of most individual PAHs their mean share did not differ statistically in relation to the PAH type and was close to 40%. An evaluation of the relation between the share of the fraction extracted with n-butanol from the different types of sludge and the properties of the PAHs showed that statistically, there existed significant (P < 0.05) correlations between log K oc (in the case of one sewage sludge) and between the nitrogen content, ORDER REPRINTS the ratio of C/N, cations Mg 2þ and K þ (in the case of a few PAHs). A clear and significant relation was found between the content of and the share of the fraction of n-butanol extracted and the PAH fraction present in the sewage sludge pore water (determined on the basis of an equilibrium partition model).
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 2010
This study was carried out to investigate the concentrations and potential sources of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sludge of 14 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Sludge samples were collected from 2 municipal WWTPs, 11 industrial WWTPs, and 1 sanitary landfill leachate treatment plant within the city of Bursa, Turkey during the summer of 2008. Ultrasonication was applied for extraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to analyze the PAH contents of the samples. Twelve of the 16 EPA-listed PAH compounds were determined. Total PAH concentrations (∑12 PAHs) determined in all of the sludge samples ranged from 1,781 to 19,866 μg/kg dry matter (dm). The sum of 8 of the 11 EU PAHs varied between 1,481 and 17,314 μg/kg dm, and 3 of the samples exceeded the proposed EU limit for land application. One of the automotive industry sludges contained the highest level of PAHs, followed by one of the municipal sludges. The average sum of 5- and 6-ring PAH compounds in all of the sludge samples amounted to almost 65% of the total PAHs. The diagnostic ratios of specific PAHs were calculated to determine the dominant sources for the PAHs in the sludge samples.
Journal of Chromatography A, 2005
A new GC-ion trap MS method has been developed for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sewage sludge samples. The sludge samples were extracted with Soxhlet, Soxtec, and pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) using 1:1 (v/v) dichloromethane (DCM):n-hexane solvent mixture. A multi-layer clean-up (silica/Al 2 O 3) column were used, followed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) to eliminate the interfering organic compound as well as the lipids. The extracts were quantified with GC-EI-SIS and GC-EI-MS-MS. The method was successfully applied to determine the concentration of PAHs present in sewage sludge samples collected from four waste water treatment plants (WWTPs). The method recovery values varied from 61.5 to 90.5%, 65.0 to 91.8% and 60.0 to 93.4% for Soxtec extraction, Soxhlet extraction and PLE extraction, respectively. The total concentrations of the 16 PAHs in the sewage sludge samples were found to vary from 1.56 to 6.18 mg/kg. The concentration of PAHs in WWTPs did not significantly vary.
2004
Land application of sludge as fertilizers is a way of disposal and recycling of sludge. However, public concern has arisen due to the fact that organic contaminants in sludge may ultimately enter the food chain. Hence the need arises to analyse the organic contaminants such as PAHs and OCPs in sludge. In this study, Soxhlet was utilised as the extraction method and the extracts subjected to extensive cleanup via either silica columns or solid phase extraction cartridges prior to analysis using gas chromatography or high performance liquid chromatography. Sludge samples were collected from the drying beds of oxidation ponds in three locations in South Johore. OCPs such as heptachlor, dieldrin and pp-DDT were detected in low amounts (52-159 mg/kg) whereas PAHs such as naphthalene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene and benzo(a)pyrene were detected in the range of 0.2-5.5 mg/kg dry mass. Subcritical water extraction (SWE) recovery studies of PAHs were also performed from spiked sludge samples. Although a recovery range of 41-68% was obtained using the SWE method, the results indicated the usefulness of the technique as an alternative to Soxhlet extraction for the analysis of PAHs in sludge samples.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) levels in sludges from wastewater treatment plants in Bursa
Sigma Journal of Engineering and Natural Sciences, 2011
Disused creosote-treated railway ties are reused in France and many other countries and, in particular, for landscaping and other residential uses. Given the lack of data on the environmental fate of creosote-derived compounds released from used railway ties, a survey of different environmental media (i.e. soil, sediment, surface water, plants and outdoor air) was carried out at six sites located in France where old creosote-treated railway ties are stored or reused for different purposes. Maximum total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations measured in soils ranged from 2 to 140 mg/kg dry weight. PAH impacts were limited both vertically and horizontally to several centimetres from the railway ties. At two sites, PAH levels in plants (up to 140 μg/kg fresh weight) appeared correlated to the levels measured in soils, suggesting a transfer from soils to the plants. PAHs in sediment were measured at concentrations of up to 280 mg/kg dry weight. As observed in soil, PAH concentrations decreased rapidly further away from the railway ties. Principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering on principal components indicate that PAHs detected in soils and sediments originated from unweathered to severely weathered creosote and could be strongly influenced by urban background. Results on outdoor air measurements show a degradation of air quality above old and fresh railway tie storage areas at a railway station and to a lesser extent in their vicinity. However, this degradation was low to moderate when compared to French regulatory values, ambient background levels reported in France, as well as health-based air comparison values.