Anaerobic Degradation of Nonylphenol Mono- and Diethoxylates in Digestor Sludge, Landfilled Municipal Solid Waste, and Landfilled Sludge

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 33; no. 2; pp. 301 - 306
• Main Authors: Ejlertsson, Jörgen, Nilsson, Marie-Louise, Kylin, Henrik, Bergman, Åke, Karlson, Leif, Öquist, Mats, Svensson, Bo H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 15.01.1999
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Biological treatment of waters; Biotechnology; Environment and pollution; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Industrial wastewaters; Landfill; Municipal solid waste; Organic chemistry; Other industrial wastes. Sewage sludge; Pollution; Sludge; Waste materials; Wastes; Wastewaters; Water treatment and pollution; Anaerobiosis; Biodegradation; Waste dumping; Pollutant behavior; Waste treatment; Non ionic surfactant; Urban waste; Sewage sludge; Biological purification; Ethylene oxide polymer; Industrial waste water; Biotransformation; Methanogenesis; Waste water purification
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es980669u

The aim of this study was to investigate the extent to which anaerobic digestor sludge, landfilled sludge, and landfilled municipal solid waste (MSW) degrade NPEOs under methanogenic conditions. NPEO1 and NPEO2 (NPEO1-2), used in a mixture, were chosen as model compounds. Anaerobic experimental bottles were amended with 100% digestor sludge at three different concentrations of NPEO1-2:  2, 60, and 308 mg L-1. [U-14C]-NPEO1-2 was used to detect any possible decomposition of the aromatic moiety of the NPEO1-2. All inoculates used degraded NPEO1-2 at 2 mg L-1, with nonylphenol (NP) forming the ultimate degradation product. The NP formed was not further degraded, and the incubations with labeled NPEO showed that the aromatic structure remained intact. Both landfill inoculates also transformed NPEO1-2 at 60 mg L-1. CH4 production was temporarily hampered in bottles with MSW landfill inoculum at 60 and 308 mg L-1. With 2 mg L-1 of NPEO, CH4 production closely followed that in the controls. Both NP and NPEO1-2 interacted with the organic matter which resulted in sorption to the solid phase.