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Organic micropollutants’ distribution within sludge organic matter fractions explains their dynamic during sewage sludge anaerobic digestion followed by composting

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Abstract

The simultaneous fate of organic matter and 4 endocrine disruptors (3 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (fluoranthene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, and benzo(a)pyrene) and nonylphenols (NP)) was studied during the anaerobic digestion followed by composting of sludge at lab-scale. Sludge organic matter was characterized, thanks to chemical fractionation and 3D fluorescence deciphering its accessibility and biodegradability. Total chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was 41% and 56% during anaerobic digestion and composting, respectively. 3D fluorescence highlighted the quality changes of organic matter. During continuous anaerobic digestion, organic micropollutants’ removal was 22 ± 14%, 6 ± 5%, 18 ± 9%, and 0% for fluoranthene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, and nonylphenols, respectively. Discontinuous composting allowed to go further on the organic micropollutants’ removal as 34 ± 8%, 31 ± 20%, 38 ± 10%, and 52 ± 6% of fluoranthene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, and nonylphenols were dissipated, respectively. Moreover, the accessibility of PAH and NP expressed by their presence in the various sludge organic matter fractions and its evolution during both treatments was linked to both the quality evolution of the organic matter and the physicochemical properties of the PAH and NP; the presence in most accessible fractions explained the amount of PAH and NP dissipated.

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Abbreviations

ASE:

Accelerated solvent extraction

BaP:

Benzo(a)pyrene

BbF:

Benzo(b)fluoranthene

COD:

Chemical oxygen demand (gO2 L−1)

CSTR:

Continuous stirred tank reactor

DSS:

Digested secondary sludge

EU:

European Union

Flt:

Fluoranthene

GW:

Green wastes

HPLC:

High-performance liquid chromatography

HRT:

Hydraulic retention time

IM:

Initial mixture of compost

Mat:

End of the maturation phase of compost

NEOM:

Non-extractable organic matter

NP:

Nonylphenols

PAHs:

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

PEOM:

Poorly extractable organic matter

REOM:

Readily extractable organic matter

SEOM:

Slowly extractable organic matter

SPOM:

Solubilizable fraction from particulate organic matter

SS:

Secondary sludge

TD:

End of the temperature decrease phase of compost

Th:

End of the thermophilic phase of compost

TS:

Total solids (g L−1)

WWTP:

Wastewater treatment plant

Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5, Z6, and Z7:

3D fluorescence zones

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME) and the French National Agency for Biodiversity (AFB).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. LBE, Univ Montpellier, INRA, 102 Avenue des Etangs, 11100, Narbonne, France

    Quentin Aemig, Nicolas Doussiet, Alice Danel, Nadine Delgenès, Julie Jimenez & Dominique Patureau

  2. UMR ECOSYS, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78850, Thiverval-Grignon, France

    Sabine Houot

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  1. Quentin Aemig
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  2. Nicolas Doussiet
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  3. Alice Danel
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  4. Nadine Delgenès
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  5. Julie Jimenez
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  6. Sabine Houot
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  7. Dominique Patureau
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Correspondence to Dominique Patureau.

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Aemig, Q., Doussiet, N., Danel, A. et al. Organic micropollutants’ distribution within sludge organic matter fractions explains their dynamic during sewage sludge anaerobic digestion followed by composting. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26, 5820–5830 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-4014-7

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