Long-term trends of fluorotelomer alcohols in a wastewater treatment plant impacted by textile manufacturing industry. (July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ma, Chunmeng; Peng, Hui; Chen, Hongrui; Shang, Wei; Zheng, Xingcan; Yang, Min; Zhang, Yu
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 299(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-07
• Subjects: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances -- Precursor -- Substitute -- Municipal wastewater treatment plant -- Industrial wastewater; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134442
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: Fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) are important precursors and substitutes of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs). This study investigated the long-term trends of FTOHs in a municipal wastewater treatment plant impacted by textile manufacturing industry (T-WWTP) in Wuxi city from 2013 to 2021. For comparison, four domestic wastewater treatment plants (D-WWTPs) were also selected for the investigation. The total concentrations of FTOHs, which were 9.8–43 ng/L, 5.9–29 ng/L and 10–50 ng/g in influent, secondary effluent, and sludge samples from the T-WWTP, were significantly higher than those of the D-WWTPs ( p < 0.01). The significant correlation between decrease of mass loads for FTOHs and the increase for PFCAs was observed, suggesting the potential biotransformation of FTOHs to PFCAs. Concentration variation in FTOH concentrations was observed for the T-WWTP, which was in accord with the variation in annual output of textile products in Wuxi city ( p = 0.005). The predominance of 8:2 FTOH in the influents of T-WWTP between 2013 and 2016 switched over to 6:2 FTOH in 2020–2021. This work highlighted the textile manufacturing industry as a significant discharge route for FTOHs to municipal WWTP, as well as the dramatic change in the usage of FTOHs in the textile manufacturing industry in Wuxi. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: High concentration of FTOHs was detected in a municipal WWTP receiving textile wastewater. Concentration variation of FTOHs in influents was accord with annual output of textile. The predominant FTOHs shift trend from 8:2 to 6:2 FTOH in influent was found during 2013–2021. The textile manufacturing industry is a significant discharge route for FTOHs to municipal WWTPs.