Development of a routine analytical procedure for nonylphenol polyethyoxylates and their biodegradation products in sludge from sewage treatment plants

• Published in: Water Science & Technology Vol. 44; no. 10; pp. 101 - 106
• Main Authors: TATEDA, M, HUNG, N. V, KAKU, H, ASANO, M, IKE, M, FUJITA, M
• Format: Conference Proceeding Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London IWA Publishing 01.01.2001
• Subjects: Analytical methods; Applied sciences; Biodegradation; Biodegradation, Environmental; Chemistry Techniques, Analytical - methods; Detergents - analysis; Detergents - chemistry; Detergents - metabolism; Ecological risk assessment; Economic conditions; Environmental Monitoring; Ethylene Glycols - analysis; Ethylene Glycols - chemistry; Ethylene Glycols - metabolism; Exact sciences and technology; Extraction; High performance liquid chromatography; HPLC; Japan; Liquid chromatography; Nonylphenol; Other industrial wastes. Sewage sludge; Pollution; Quantitation; Quantitative analysis; Recovery; Risk Assessment; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sewage; Sewage - chemistry; Sewage disposal; Sewage sludge; Sewage treatment; Sewage treatment plants; Shaking; Sludge; Wastes; Wastewater treatment; Wastewater treatment plants; Japan; Biodegradation; Chemical analysis; Waste treatment; Non ionic surfactant; Reaction product; Surfactant polymer; Solvent extraction; Sewage sludge
• ISBN: 9781843394044; 1843394049
• ISSN: 0273-1223; 1996-9732
• DOI: 10.2166/wst.2001.0593

A method of quantitative analysis of nonylphenol polyethoxylates (NPnEOs) and their biodegration products (NPE-BDPs) in sewage sludge, which is effective, economical, and applicable to a high performance liquid chromatography was developed and actual sludge samples collected from Japanese sewage treatment plants (STPs) were analyzed using the method to confirm its effectiveness. Soxhlet extraction showed better recovery in a spike and recovery test than shaking extraction. Among the four pretreatments for Soxhlet extraction tested, the condition in which samples were freeze-dried, ultrasonicated, and extracted with methanol showed the best recovery efficiency. Quantitative analysis of NPE-BDPs in STP sludge resulted in 6.1 microg/g, 4.3 microg/g, and 8. microg/g in average concentration for NPnEOs (n=1-3), NPnEOs (n=4-18), and nonylphenol ethoxycarboxylates (NPnECs (n=1-3)), respectively, and the values of concentration were 100-1000 times higher than those in effluent at Japan's STPs. The results implied importance of quantitation of NPE-BDPs in sewage sludge to assess the risk to the environment.