Transformation and fate of pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances during aerobic digestion of anaerobically digested sludge. (1st July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Yijing; Thompson, Jack; Wang, Zhiyao; Bräunig, Jennifer; Zheng, Qiuda; Thai, Phong K.; Mueller, Jochen F.; Yuan, Zhiguo
• Is Part Of: Water research. Volume 219(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-07-01
• Subjects: Anaerobically digested sludge -- Aerobic digestion -- Pharmaceuticals -- Perfluoroalkyl acids -- Transformation -- Adsorption; FTOHs fluorotelomer alcohols -- FTCAs fluorotelomer carboxylic acids -- FTS fluorotelomer sulfonates -- N-EtFOSE N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido ethanol -- N-EtFOSAA N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamidoacetic acid -- N-MeFOSE N-methyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido ethanol -- N-MeFOSAA N-methyl perfluorooctane sulfonamidoacetic acid -- PFAS Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances -- PFAAs perfluoroalkyl acids -- PFCAs perfluoroalkyl carboxylates -- PFSAs perfluoroalkyl sulfonates -- PFBS perfluorobutane sulfonate -- PFBA perfluorobutanoic acid -- PFDA perfluorodecanoic acid -- PFDoDA perfluorododecanoic acid -- PFHpA perfluoroheptanoic acid -- PFHxS perfluorohexane sulfonate -- PFHxA perfluorohexanoic acid -- PFNA perfluorononanoic acid -- PFOS perfluorooctane sulfonate -- PFOA perfluorooctanoic acid -- PFPeA perfluoropentanoic acid -- PFUnDA perfluoroundecanoic acid -- PAPs polyfluoroalkyl phosphates -- FTUCAs unsaturated fluorotelomer carboxylic acids; Water -- Pollution -- Research -- Periodicals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118568
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0043-1354

Abstract

Highlights: Fourteen PPCPs and fifteen PFAS were detected and evaluated. Transformation of 12 PPCPs in sludge occurred during post aerobic digestion. PFPeA, PFHxA, PFBS, and PFOS showed significant aerobic formation. Concentrations of four PFAA precursors did not change after aerobic digestion. Aerobic digestion enhanced the sorption of four PPCPs and three PFAAs by sludge. Abstract: Post-anaerobic aerobic digestion (PAAD) is a promising strategy to further reduce the volume and improve the quality of anaerobically digested sludge (ADS). However, the effect of PAAD process on the fate of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) remains largely unknown. In this study, fourteen PPCPs and fifteen PFAS were detected in ADS and evaluated regarding their fate and transformation in a laboratory aerobic digester operated with a hydraulic retention time of 13 days under 22 ℃. Twelve PPCPs demonstrated significant ( p < 0.05) decrease in their total concentrations (dissolved and adsorbed fractions combined) with six compounds presenting substantial transformation (> 80%) after aerobic digestion. On the contrary, PFAS were not removed and their concentrations were either increased (increasing ratio: 91 – 571%) or consistent in the sludge during PAAD process, suggesting their recalcitrance to post aerobic digestion. More than half of PPCPs and PFAS demonstrated medium to strong sorption onto solids with their solid fraction higher than 50% in the ADS. After PAAD process, sorption of four PPCPs and three PFAAs to solids was enhanced in sludge. Graphical abstract: Image, graphical abstract