Occurrence of brominated alkylphenol polyethoxy carboxylates in mutagenic waste water concentrates

Abstract

Removal and formation of mutagenic activity during advanced wastewater treatment were investigated by using the Salmonella typhimurium strain TA100. The activity of direct acting mutagens appeared to increase at the recarbonation stage, where 6-10 mg/L of chlorine was added. Subsequent activated carbon treatment removed activity effectively but was apparently ineffective in removing precursors. Final chlorination typically with 25 mg/L of chlorine led to the reoccurrence of mutagenicity. Organic concentrates obtained by XAD-8 adsorption were separated by liquid-solid chromatography on silica gel. Mutagenicity was consistently found in the methanol fractions, which were further examined by GC/mass spectrometry. These fractions contained primarily carboxylic acids including brominated and nonbrominated alkylphenol polyethoxy carboxylic acids (BrAPECs and APECs). APECs were brominated during chlorination. Correlation between the occurrence of mutagenicity in the methanol fraction and the formation of BrAPECs suggested potential mutagenicity of these brominated compounds. However, preliminary experiments failed to confirm this hypothesis.

Identification of organic residues in tertiary effluents by GC/EI-MS, GC/CI-MS and GC/TSQ-MS

“…The concentrations of NTA and NDA were significantly lower than the EDTA concentration, presumably in part due to biological removal during secondary treatment [7]. As in previous studies, partially oxidized residues of alkylphenoxy ethoxylates (APEs) were detected [2]. However, the APE residues detected here were carboxylated on both side chains, the ethoxy and the alkyl …”

“…A previous study of WF21 effluents (1979)(1980)(1981)(1982) found that none of the EPA priority pollutants were present at concentrations above Correspondence to: W.-H. Ding regulatory levels [1]. Other studies at WF21 focused on alkylphenol polyethoxylates surfactant residues, their chlorination and bromination during chlorine disinfection [2], and on removal of organics during reverse osmosis treatment [3]. Little is known about the identity and concentration of specific organics that remain after GAC contacting.…”

The Environmental Chemistry, Fate and Effects of Nonionic Surfactants

“…In addition to the studies on the concentration of APE biodegradation intermediates chlorinated OPE were found in river water sampies (Sheldon and Hites [13]), while chlorination of wastewaters resulted in the formation of both chlorinated and brominated OPE and OPEC (Ball and Reinhard [108], Reinhard et al [109]) with halogenated OP2EC the major product. A wide range of halogenated OPE were determined in the municipal secondary sewage treatment plant effiuent at concentrations up to 51 J.lg/I while nonhalogenated OPE residues were present at concentrations of 36-112 J.lg/I.…”

Off-Line Concentration of Bisphenol A and Three Alkylphenols by SPE then On-Line Concentration and Rapid Separation by Reverse-Migration Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography

“…Three AP-4-tert-butylphenol (4-tBP), 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), and 4-tert-octylphenol (4-tOP)-and BPA have frequently been found in waste water, natural water, and sewage effluents [1][2][3][4]. These compounds have been closely studied in recent years because they have been shown to have estrogenic effects in fish, avian, and mammalian cells and are suspected of having endocrine-disrupting toxicity [5,6].…”