Effect of Activated Sludge on the Degradation of 2-Ethylhexyl 4-Methoxycinnamate and 2-Ethylhexyl 4-(Dimethylamino)Benzoate in Wastewater

Gackowska, Alicja; Studziński, Waldemar

Effect of Activated Sludge on the Degradation of 2-Ethylhexyl 4-Methoxycinnamate and 2-Ethylhexyl 4-(Dimethylamino)Benzoate in Wastewater

2020

Gackowska, Alicja | Studziński, Waldemar

Incomplete removal of organic pollutants during wastewater treatment is one of the main routes to introduce micro-pollutants into the environment. This group of pollutants includes, among others, UV filters. Commonly used UV filters are 2-ethylhexyl 4-methoxycinnamate (EHMC) and 2-ethylhexyl 4-(dimethylamino)benzoate (ODPABA). Due to the lipophilic character, these compounds can accumulate in sludge. The effects of activated sludge on the removal of EHMC and ODPABA from wastewater have been investigated in this study. It was shown that both UV filters tend to accumulate in the sludge. The concentration of UV filters in sludge increased with the increase of activated sludge dose and time of process. It was checked whether EHMC and ODPABA were transformed in activated sludge. A gas chromatograph coupled with a mass spectrometry detector (GC-MS) was used to identify products. In the case of EHMC, ethylhexyl alcohol (EHA) and the Z-EHMC isomer were identified. Methyl-4-aminobenzoic acid (MPABA) was identified as ODPABA degradation product. Elimination of EHMC and ODPABA from wastewater mainly proceeds by adsorption of these pollutants in the sludge. Filters present in wastewater and sludge undergo transformations.

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