Homopolymers and copolymers of polyacrylic acid are a subgroup of water-soluble polymers commonly used in the manufacture of cosmetic products. They perform a variety of tasks and are used in large quantities, but their definition and unknown environmental impact mean they are not covered by European legislation. As a result, data on their use and emissions are not known. In the framework of the thesis, the interactions of a polyacrylic acid copolymer with activated sludge were investigated. The adsorption of the copolymer on the activated sludge, the effect on the settleability and the activity of the sludge itself were monitored. We found that adsorption increases with time and is not significantly affected by pH. The presence of the copolymer reduced sludge sedimentation and we could not conclude from our results whether or not the activity was affected by the copolymer. It is safe to say that water-soluble polymers interact with activated sludge in biological wastewater treatment plants and therefore future research on their impact on activated sludge is urgently needed.
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