Phenolic compounds—Occurrence in water, sediment and sludge, and ecological risk evaluation

Abstract

Ten phenolic compounds (PC) concentration levels were determined in river water, wastewater, sediments and sludge using solid phase extraction (SPE) microwave assisted extraction (MAE) and ultrasonic extraction (UE), and their ecological risk was evaluated. All the extraction methods showed good sensitivity with limit of detection and limit of quantification values at 0.01–2.00 and 0.02–6.07 µg L−1 for SPE, 0.05–1.20 and 0.17–3.17 µg kg−1 for MAE and 0.09–1.33 and 0.26–3.54 µg kg−1 for UE, correspondingly. Recovery ranges of 75.2–112% (SPE), 80.9–110% (MAE) and 79.3–119% (UE) were obtained. The PC concentrations in wastewater matrix were within the maximum allowable limit except for 2,4‐dichlorophenol at sampling point wdv4. In river water, at Camps Drift the highest concentrations compared to other sampling points was measured, however, all were within the acceptable limits. The risk quotient values exhibited high ecological risk in majority of the sites, with effects range median values indicating toxic effects to the surroundings likely to occur frequently. The probable carcinogenic risk potential was notably found to be high for adults with increment life cancer risk through dermal exposure (ILCRderm) values of 5.34 × 10−2 and 5.92 × 10−2 compared to that for children at 1.26 × 10−2 and 1.39 × 10−2 for both sludge and sediment samples.

Spherical Lignin-Derived Activated Carbons for the Adsorption of Phenol from Aqueous Media

“…Vmicro (cm 3 . SEM images collected for stabilized lignin chemically activated with K 2 CO 3 using the DRY method at salt to carbon precursor ratios of (a) 1.5 eq, (b) 2.5 eq, (c) 3.0 eq and (d) 4.0 eq and carbonized at 800 • C.…”

“…Meanwhile, the rapid development of industries, population growth, and continuous improvement in the standard of living have resulted in an increased demand for usable water, and have also had a devastating impact on the water resources through the release of large amounts of contaminants. An important group of emitted pollutants are organic compounds dissolved in water, including phenols and their derivatives, which can bioaccumulate in the environment [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. It should be remembered that these substances are formed naturally as a result of the decomposition of organic matter by microorganisms or the metabolic processes of many species of plants and fungi [ 4 ].…”