Evaluation of surfactant removal efficiency in selected domestic wastewater treatment plants in Poland

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the work of a two types of household sewage treatment plant: wetland wastewater treatment plant (ORS type) and treatment plant of SBR type (SBR-K-6 type). Physicochemical analyses of selected pollution indices (BOD 5 , COD, total suspension, total phosphorus) and surfactants were carried out and compared with currently applicable values of such indexes according to the Regulation of the Minister of the Environment in Poland on the conditions to be met when discharging sewage into water or soil, and on the substances particularly harmful to the aquatic environment. The removal efficiency of organic compounds, expressed as COD and BOD 5 , reached the threshold of 90%, which is required in regulations. In contrast, the effects of removal of biogenic compounds were lowin case of total nitrogen the removal rate reached approx. 40% and the desired admissible concentration of 30 mg N/L was not achieved. The reduction efficiency of total suspended solids reached 57.0 and 59.6% for the ORS and SBR-K-6 type objects, respectively, and therefore the required threshold of minimum 90% was not reached. Anionic surfactants were removed by up to 98 and 88% in the ORS and SBR-K-6 type wastewater treatment plants, respectively. Lower removal efficiency was achieved in case on non-ionic surfactants, which reached 76% for the ORS type object and 56% for the SBR-K-6 type object. This article proven high wastewater treatment efficiency and lower than necessary concentrations in the effluent from domestic wastewater treatment plants may be achieved mainly by proper exploitation of the devices and appropriately selected vegetation.

COVID-19: Eco-friendly hand hygiene for human and environmental safety

“…Their toxicity to the living organisms including microorganisms to mammals of the different ecosystems (water, soil, and sediments) are well reported [ 4 , 5 ]. They also increase the concentrations of hydrocarbons and pesticides in the aqueous environment and antibiotic resistance in microorganisms [ 16 , 17 ]. Their concentrations in greywater effluents and natural waters ranged from 0.7 to 70 mg/L and 0.001 to 10 mg/L, respectively [ 4 , 18 ].…”

“…Their concentrations in greywater effluents and natural waters ranged from 0.7 to 70 mg/L and 0.001 to 10 mg/L, respectively [ 4 , 18 ]. Their treatment in wastewater treatment plants is challenging and they also create secondary issues like foaming, interruption in oxygen diffusion, inhibition of the biodegradation of organic compounds, and denitrification process [ 17 ]. LAS, anionic surfactants are non-biodegradable anaerobically, though it could be degraded aerobically (80–96 %).…”

Environmental impact of increased soap consumption during COVID-19 pandemic: Biodegradable soap production and sustainable packaging

“…Surfactants and their degradation products accumulate in wastewater treatment plants and change physicochemical properties of surface waters, sediments, and soils ( Pironti et al, 2020 ). The introduction of these residual compounds in the aqueous environment will decrease oxygen diffusion by 40% and increase concentrations of hydrocarbons and pesticides into aqueous systems ( Kruszelnicka et al, 2019 ; Daverey and Dutta, 2020 ; Kumar et al, 2021 ). They are also obstructing the aqueous system's auto-remediation processes and affect the growth and nitrification capacity of microorganisms in the soil ( Jardak et al, 2016 ).…”

Rationale for the Combined Use of Biological Processes and AOPs in Wastewater Treatment Tasks

“…A study by Kruszelnicka et al [19] focused on evaluating the performance of two types of domestic wastewater treatment plant: a wetland wastewater treatment plant (ORS type), and an SBR-type wastewater treatment plant (SBR-K-6 type). At the ORS-and SBR-K-6type wastewater treatment plants, the anionic surfactants were removed up to 98 and 88%, respectively.…”