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Lab-scale experimental strategy for determining micropollutant partition coefficient and biodegradation constants in activated sludge

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Abstract

The nitrifying/denitrifying activated sludge process removes several micropollutants from wastewater by sorption onto sludge and/or biodegradation. The objective of this paper is to propose and evaluate a lab-scale experimental strategy for the determination of partition coefficient and biodegradation constant for micropollutant with an objective of modelling their removal. Four pharmaceutical compounds (ibuprofen, atenolol, diclofenac and fluoxetine) covering a wide hydrophobicity range (log Kow from 0.16 to 4.51) were chosen. Dissolved and particulate concentrations were monitored for 4 days, inside two reactors working under aerobic and anoxic conditions, and under different substrate feed conditions (biodegradable carbon and nitrogen). We determined the mechanisms responsible for the removal of the target compounds: (i) ibuprofen was biodegraded, mainly under aerobic conditions by cometabolism with biodegradable carbon, whereas anoxic conditions suppressed biodegradation; (ii) atenolol was biodegraded under both aerobic and anoxic conditions (with a higher biodegradation rate under aerobic conditions), and cometabolism with biodegradable carbon was the main mechanism; (iii) diclofenac and fluoxetine were removed by sorption only. Finally, the abilities of our strategy were evaluated by testing the suitability of the parameters for simulating effluent concentrations and removal efficiency at a full-scale plant.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Onema (the French National Agency for Water and Aquatic Ecosystems) for providing financial support to the ARMISTIQ project. We are also grateful to L. Dherret, E. Vray, S. Schiavone, C. Michard, C. Crétollier, D. Gorini, L. Richard, P. Le Pimpec (Irstea) and K. Le Menach (EPOC-LPTC of University of Bordeaux 1) for assistance with sampling and analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Irstea, UR MALY, 5 rue de la Doua, CS70077, 69626, Villeurbanne, Cedex, France

    M. Pomiès, J. M. Choubert, C. Miège & M. Coquery

  2. UMR Qualisud, Université Montpellier 1, 15 Av. Ch. Flahault BP 14491, 34093, Montpellier, Cedex 5, France

    C. Wisniewski

  3. EPOC/LPTC UMR5805, Université Bordeaux 1, 351 Cours de la libération, 33405, Talence, Cedex, France

    H. Budzinski

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  1. M. Pomiès
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  2. J. M. Choubert
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  3. C. Wisniewski
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  4. C. Miège
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  5. H. Budzinski
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  6. M. Coquery
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Correspondence to J. M. Choubert.

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Responsible editor: Angeles Blanco

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Pomiès, M., Choubert, J.M., Wisniewski, C. et al. Lab-scale experimental strategy for determining micropollutant partition coefficient and biodegradation constants in activated sludge. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 4383–4395 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3646-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3646-5

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