Bisphenols have been widely applied in the industry as monomers in epoxy resins, and polycarbonate production. They all share a common structure of two hydroxyphenyl functionalities and are potential endocrine disruptors. Their presence in different environments, such as surface waters, sediments, wastewaters, and sludge has already been reported. Since the existing data about their potential toxicity, besides bisphenol A, also the use of its alternatives (e.g., bisphenol S, bisphenol F) should be monitored.
In the following research the occurrence of bisphenol A and his 15 substitutes in a municipal wastewater treatment plant with a technology of wastewater treatment with activated sludge was monitored. First, an analytical method for the determination of 16 bisphenols in the solid phase of activated sludge, based on solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, was developed, and validated. Composite samples from different compartments of a municipal wastewater treatment plant that uses sequencing batch reactor technology were sampled and analysed. Concentrations of bisphenols were recalculated into mass flows, and their removal rate from wastewater and their adsorption to primary and secondary sludge was determined. In addition, their emissions into the environment via effluent release or sludge disposal were evaluated.
Results showed that all the bisphenols in the effluent from wastewater treatment plant, except bisphenol A (79 ng L-1), bisphenol S (20 ng L-1), bisphenol BP (3 ng L-1), 2,2’ bisphenol F (3 ng L-1), bisphenol AP (2 ng L-1), were present below the limit of quantification, which means that the removal of bisphenols from the aqueous phase ranged from 29% (bisphenol AF) to 94% (2,4'-bisphenol F, bisphenol E). Adsorption to primary and secondary sludge ranged from 2% (bisphenol E, bisphenol BP) to 45% (2,2’ bisphenol F) and the remaining bisphenols in the effluent from wastewater treatment plant from 3% (2,4’ bisphenol F) to 52% (bisphenol P). The highest daily emissions via effluent release and sludge disposal were measured for BPA and were up to 1.48 g day-1 and 4.63 g day-1, respectively. Results show that the concentrations of bisphenols in sludge are not negligible, and for that reason their emissions into the environment should be monitored and considered.
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