A rapid method to measure the solid–water distribution coefficient ( K d) for pharmaceuticals and musk fragrances in sewage sludge

• Published in: Water research (Oxford) Vol. 38; no. 19; pp. 4075 - 4084
• Main Authors: Ternes, Thomas A., Herrmann, Nadine, Bonerz, Matthias, Knacker, Thomas, Siegrist, Hansruedi, Joss, Adriano
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-11-2004; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Activated sludge; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Endocrine disrupters; Endocrine System - drug effects; Environment and pollution; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Exact sciences and technology; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated - analysis; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Odorants - analysis; Other industrial wastes. Sewage sludge; Pharmaceutical Preparations - analysis; Pharmaceuticals; Pollution; Primary sludge; Sewage; Sewage - chemistry; Sorption; Waste Disposal, Fluid; Wastes; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water treatment and pollution; World; Sorption; Activated sludge; Sewage; Primary sludge; Endocrine disrupters; K d; Pharmaceuticals; Cosmetic; Drug; Cytostatic; Estrogen; Lipids; Endocrine disruptor; Sewage sludge; Sewage treatment plant; Waste water; Biological purification; Batchwise; Kd; Waste water purification
• ISSN: 0043-1354; 1879-2448
• DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2004.07.015

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products are omnipresent in wastewater world-wide. In order to predict their sorption quantities onto sludge in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), the solid–water distribution coefficients (
K
d values) of selected pharmaceuticals (antiphlogistics, estrogens, lipid regulators, anti-epileptic and cytostatic agents) and polycyclic musk fragrances (HHCB, AHTN) were determined in primary and secondary sludges taken from a German municipal WWTP. For the
K
d determination, batches of primary and secondary sludge slurries were spiked with the respective target compounds and slowly stirred under defined conditions (e.g. an argon atmosphere). Finally, the water and solid sludge phases were analysed. The
K
d values of pharmaceuticals ranged from <1 to 500
L
kg
−1, while those for the polycyclic musk fragrances AHTN and HHCB proved to be up to 5300 and 4900
L
kg
−1, respectively. The primary and secondary sludge showed significant differences for some pharmaceuticals such as Diclofenac and Cyclophosphamide due to the different pH and composition of the two sludges. The removal rate from the water phase caused by sorption in a WWTP can be reasonably predicted on the basis of the
K
d values.