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Department of Chemical Engineering, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Box 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan
ATZ-EVUS, Department of Environmental Process Technology, Applikations-und Technikzentrum, Kropfersrichter Strabe 6-8, D92237 Sulzbach-Rosenberg, Germany
Received 12 July 1999; accepted 15 October 1999
Abstract
4-Nonylphenol (4-NP) occurs in sewage sludge as a result of the breakdown of detergents which contains nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs). 4-NP is of environmental concern because of its toxicity to biological systems. The present
paper reports results of aerobic treatment under thermophilic conditions of sewage sludge articially contaminated with
4-NP. Experiments were carried out using three parallel laboratory-scale batch reactors operating with blank, 50 and
100 mg/l of 4-NP concentration. For the two studied concentrations up to 66% 4-NP reduction was achieved at a
specic air ow rate of 16 l/(l.h) and a thermophilic temperature of 60C, within 10 days of operation. The presence of
4-NP has minor eect on the rate of sludge oxidation and the nitrogen and phosphorous content in the sludge. 2000
Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Nonylphenol; Sludge treatment; Thermophilic; Aerobic; Biodegradation; Digestion
1. Introduction
In recent years, the expansion in both industrial and
municipal wastewater treatment and the increasingly
stringent regulations have markedly increased the volume of sludges generated and the complexity of disposal
requirements. Selection of treatment processes for
sludges depends upon the nature of the sludge, environmental factors, and ultimate disposal options. Ideally, ultimate disposal should not pollute the
environment, should conserve resources in the sludge
and should be economical. With the prohibition of
sewage sludge disposal at sea, the choice rests between
land application and incineration. Application of sludge
to land, where feasible, is the most desirable attractive
0045-6535/00/$ - see front matter 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
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With the parameter COD oxidizable chemical compounds of the sludge can be measured. Under aerobic
thermophilic conditions up to 30% of the sludge COD
was eliminated in the blank sample. However, increasing
the 4-NP initial concentration in the sludge decreased
the reduction of COD. In the case of a 100 mg/l initial
4-NP concentration the reduction was 25%. The marked
dependency of COD reduction on the reactor retention
time is obvious as illustrated in Fig. 3.
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References
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