Toxicity of nonylphenol diethoxylate in lab-scale anaerobic digesters

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 104; pp. 69 - 75
• Main Authors: Bozkurt, Hande, Sanin, F. Dilek
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Anaerobic digestion; Anaerobic Toxicity Assay test; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Biological treatment of waters; Biotechnology; Endocrine Disruptors - analysis; Endocrine Disruptors - toxicity; Environment and pollution; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; General purification processes; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Nonylphenol compounds; NP2EO; Phenols - analysis; Phenols - toxicity; Pollution; Sewage - analysis; Sewage - microbiology; Sludge; Toxicity Tests; Waste Water - analysis; Waste Water - microbiology; Wastewaters; Water treatment and pollution; Nonylphenol compounds; NP2EO; Anaerobic Toxicity Assay test; Sludge; Anaerobic digestion; Methane; Activated sludge; Mimetic hormone; Detergent; Toxicity; Non ionic surfactant; Surfactant polymer; Laboratory scale; Biogas; Endocrine disruptor; Toxicity test; Anaerobe; Model compound; Production; Phenols; Biological treatment; Degradation product
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.10.059

•NP compounds are among endocrine disrupting chemicals and present in WWTP sludge in high amounts.•Their toxicity on anaerobic microorganisms is investigated.•Sludge samples used in reactor construction were found to contain NP and NP1EO but no NP2EO.•Methane production profiles did not show any significant toxic effect after NP2EO spike.•The added NP2EO is completely degraded into NP1EO and NP in live reactors. Nonylphenol compounds have high commercial, industrial and domestic uses owing to their surface active properties. In addition to their toxic, carcinogenic and persistent characteristics; they have drawn the attention of scientists lately due to their endocrine disrupting properties. Their widespread use and disposal cause them to enter wastewater treatment systems at high concentrations. Since they are highly persistent and hydrophobic, they accumulate mostly on sludge. In this study using Anaerobic Toxicity Assay (ATA) tests, the toxicity of a model nonylphenol compound, nonylphenol diethoxylate (NP2EO), for anaerobic digestion of sludge was determined. The test bottles were dosed with NP2EO in acetone, with concentrations ranging from 1mgL−1 to 30mgL−1. During the tests, gas productions and compositions in terms of methane and carbon dioxide were monitored. To be able to judge about the fate, the target compounds were extracted from water and sludge and analyzed using GC/MS. The sludge samples used for assembling the reactors were found to contain NP and NP1EO but no NP2EO. After the assay was completed, all the NP2EO spiked into the live reactors was found to disappear. The increase seen in NP1EO and NP and further accumulation of NP in the system, indicated the conversion of NP2EO to these metabolites. On the other hand, no conversion was observed in abiotic reactors. Inhibition of NP2EO for anaerobic microorganisms was not observed throughout the tests considering the biogas production of the test reactors in comparison to the control reactors.