Occurrence and dissipation mechanism of organic pollutants during the composting of sewage sludge: A critical review. (May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lü, Huixiong; Chen, Xiao-Hong; Mo, Ce-Hui; Huang, Yu-Hong; He, Min-Ying; Li, Yan-Wen; Feng, Nai-Xian; Katsoyiannis, Athanasios; Cai, Quan-Ying
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 328(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-05
• Subjects: Sludge composting -- Persistent organic pollutants -- Dissipation -- Microbial community -- Biodegradation; Biomass -- Periodicals; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Bioremediation -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Bioénergie -- Périodiques; Déchets agricoles -- Périodiques; Déchets industriels -- Périodiques; Déchets organiques -- Périodiques; Déchets (Combustible) -- Périodiques; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.124847
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: PAHs and PAEs showed higher dissipation percentages than PCDD/Fs and PCBs during sludge composting. Organic pollutants like PAHs and PAEs were removed mainly through degradation or mineralization. Recalcitrant PCDD/Fs and PCBs can be sequestrated in organic fraction of sludge compost. ARG abundance in some cases increased after sludge composting. Innovative and efficient composting is necessary to remove recalcitrant POPs and ARG. Abstract: Sewage sludge contains various classes of organic pollutants, limiting its land application. Sludge composting can effectively remove some organic pollutants. This review summarizes recent researches on concentration changes and dissipation of different organic pollutants including persistent organic pollutants during sludge composting, and discusses their dissipation pathways and the current understanding on dissipation mechanism. Some organic pollutants like PAHs and phthalates were removed mainly through biodegradation or mineralization, and their dissipation percentages were higher than those of PCDD/Fs and PCBs. Nevertheless, some recalcitrant organic pollutants could be sequestrated in organic fractions of sludge mixtures, and their levels and ARG abundance even increased after sludge composting in some studies, posing potential risks for land application. This review demonstrated that microbial community and their corresponding degradation for organic pollutants were influenced by different pollutants, bulking agents, composting methods and processes. Further research perspectives on removing organic pollutants during sludge composting were highlighted.