Biodegradation of synthetic detergents evaluation by community trials Part 2: Alcohol and alkylphenol ethoxylates

Mann, A. H.; Reid, V. W.

doi:10.1007/bf02609284

Cited by 12 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…At 5 mg/L, greater than 90% removal was achieved, but at 20 mg/L the degree of removal fluctuated between 40 and 95% at 11°C and between 20 and 80% at 8°C. The results of this work confirmed the importance of temperature in the biodegradation of Nonidet P40 found by Mann and Reid (1971).…”

Section: Degradation In Sewage Treatment Plantssupporting

confidence: 88%

“…Results from some representative studies of NPE treatment in STPs that illustrate the above statements are described below. Mann and Reid (1971) studied the biodegradation of various ethoxylates with a trickling filter STP in Preston, England, acclimated to inputs of the various detergents. (They used acclimated bacteria because of the suggestion that discrepancies in biodegradability results for NPEs might have been due to the failure to acclimate bacteria.…”

Section: Degradation In Sewage Treatment Plantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Review of the Persistence of Nonylphenol and Nonylphenol Ethoxylates in Aquatic Environments

Maguire

1999

Water Quality Research Journal

174

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Alkylphenol ethoxylates, in particular nonylphenol ethoxylates, are widely used nonionic surfactants that are discharged in high quantities to sewage treatment plants and directly to the environment in areas where there is no sewage or industrial waste treatment. This article reviews the treatability of nonylphenol ethoxylates and nonylphenol in sewage treatment plants and their persistence in aquatic environments. Nonylphenol ethoxylates can be biologically degraded in sewage treatment plants and in natural environments. Some of the degradation products, including nonylphenol, are more persistent than the parent surfactants and they are found in receiving waters of sewage treatment plants. Nonylphenol in particular is found at high concentrations in some sewage sludges that may be spread on agricultural lands. While some sewage treatment plants discharge significant amounts of nonylphenol ethoxylate degradation products in their final effluents and digested sludges compared to what enters the plant, others degrade nonylphenol ethoxylates more or less completely. The differences in treatment efficiency of such compounds and their degradation products among different sewage treatment plants have been attributed to the load of the surfactants in influent streams, plant design and operating conditions, and other factors such as temperature of treatment. The highest nonylphenol ethoxylate elimination rates were achieved in plants characterized by low sludge-loading rates and nitrifying conditions. In natural waters, it appears that parent nonylphenol ethoxylates are not persistent, but some degradation products may have moderate persistence, especially under anaerobic conditions. Recent results from mesocosm experiments indicate moderate persistence of nonylphenol in sediments, with half-lives of 28 to 104 days. Microbial acclimation to the chemicals is an important determinant of persistence vis-à-vis biodegradation. Sunlight photodegradation of such products is also likely important. Further research on the persistence in natural environments of the lower ethoxylate and carboxylate degradation products, as well as nonylphenol, is necessary. Based on the limited data available, nonylphenol and the lower ethoxylates and carboxylates are persistent in groundwater. They are also persistent in landfills under anaerobic conditions, but they do not appear to be persistent in soil under aerobic conditions. Recommendations are made for further research in order to more fully characterize the treatability of nonylphenol ethoxylates and their degradation products in sewage treatment plants and their persistence in the natural environment.

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Section: Degradation In Sewage Treatment Plantssupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Degradation In Sewage Treatment Plantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of the Persistence of Nonylphenol and Nonylphenol Ethoxylates in Aquatic Environments

Maguire

1999

Water Quality Research Journal

174

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“…Although collative conclusions from the previous studies (Ahel et al, 1994a;Mann & Reid, 1971;Stiff et al, 1973) indicate that temperature has a significant effect on APEOs degradation within full-scale and experimental wastewater treatment facilities, to date, only one study exists demonstrating clearly the effect of temperature in a wastewater treatment plant on the production of APECs. Nakada et al (2006) studied the removal efficiency of an activated sludge STW in Kanagawa, Japan, in winter (January) and summer (July) of 2004 for NP, NPEOs, and NPECs.…”

Section: Sludge Age and Hydraulic Retention Timementioning

confidence: 89%

“…Studies on the biodegradation of OPEO during the percolation of contaminated sewage through a trickling filter in Preston, England, have shown degradation from 20% up to 80% between the winter and summer seasons, respectively (Mann & Reid, 1971). In the Glatt River study (Ahel et al, 1994a) NP and NP 1-2 EOs concentrations were measured over a year, with lower concentrations being found during summer than in winter.…”

Section: Sludge Age and Hydraulic Retention Timementioning

confidence: 98%

A Critical Review of the Formation of Mono- and Dicarboxylated Metabolic Intermediates of Alkylphenol Polyethoxylates during Wastewater Treatment and Their Environmental Significance

Chiu¹,

Paterakis

Cartmell

et al. 2010

Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology

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Alkylphenoxyacetic acids, the metabolic biodegradation products of alkylphenol ethoxylates, are commonly found in wastewaters and sewage effluents. These persistent hydrophilic derivatives possess intrinsic estrogenic activity, which can mimic natural hormones. Their concentrations increase through the sewage treatment works as a result of biodegradation and biotransformation, and when discharged can disrupt endocrine function in fish. These acidic metabolites represent the dominant alkylphenolic compounds found in wastewater effluent and their presence is cause for concern as, potentially, through further biotransformation and biodegradation, they can act as sources of nonylphenol, which is toxic and estrogenic. The authors aim to assess the mechanisms of formation as well as elimination of alkylphenoxyacetic acids within conventional sewage treatment works with the emphasis on the activated sludge process. In addition, they evaluate the various factors influencing their degradation and formation in laboratory scale and full-scale systems. The environmental implications of these compounds are considered, as is the need for tertiary treatment processes for their removal.

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“…Lower temperatures associated with later sampling periods also may have contributed to the stabilization of NPEO concentrations. The biodegradation rate of Nonidet P40, an octylphenol polyethoxylate, increased from mid-March to September and then decreased until mid-December [44].…”

Section: Fate Of Rodeo and X-77 Spreadermentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of Rodeo® and X‐77® spreader to control smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) in a southwestern washington estuary: 1. Environmental fate

Paveglio

Kilbride

Grue

et al. 1996

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Abstract-A 1-ha plot with smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) at three locations in Willapa Bay, a southwestern Washington estuary, was aerially treated with 4.7 L/ha Rodeo and 0.9 L/ha X-77 Spreader to determine the fate of the herbicide formulation. Rates of spray deposit on filter pads placed over treated intertidal mudflats did not differ among locations for glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA); however, deposit rates for nonylphenol polyethoxylates (NPEO) did differ among locations. Glyphosate concentrations in sediment cores from treated mudflats declined 51 to 72% during 119 days posttreatment (DPT); NPEO concentrations in sediment declined (42%) between spray day and 14 DPT. The highest concentrations of glyphosate, AMPA, and NPEO in seawater were found in off-site samples collected from the leading edge of the first high tide after application. Glyphosate and AMPA concentrations in depth-integrated seawater samples declined 73 and 42%, respectively, between the first high tide immediately following application and the second high tide at 1 DPT. Glyphosate concentrations in Spartina stems from treated plots declined 91 to 99% between 1 and 28 DPT; whereas, AMPA declined (86 and Ͼ96%) during this period. Comparison of maximum concentrations for glyphosate in seawater from this study with acute toxicity values in the literature indicates that under worst-case conditions direct effects to aquatic organisms would not be likely.

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Biodegradation of synthetic detergents evaluation by community trials Part 2: Alcohol and alkylphenol ethoxylates

Cited by 12 publications

References 5 publications

Review of the Persistence of Nonylphenol and Nonylphenol Ethoxylates in Aquatic Environments

Review of the Persistence of Nonylphenol and Nonylphenol Ethoxylates in Aquatic Environments

A Critical Review of the Formation of Mono- and Dicarboxylated Metabolic Intermediates of Alkylphenol Polyethoxylates during Wastewater Treatment and Their Environmental Significance

Use of Rodeo® and X‐77® spreader to control smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) in a southwestern washington estuary: 1. Environmental fate

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