Title: | Identification of alpha-beta unsaturated aldehydes as sources of toxicity to activated sludge biomass in polyester manufacturing wastewater |
Author(s): | Caffaro-Filho RA; Wagner R; Umbuzeiro GA; Grossman MJ; Durrant LR; |
Address: | "Food Sciences Department, Faculty of Food Engineering, University of Campinas, R. Monteiro Lobato 80, Campus Zeferino Vaz, Cep 13083-862, Campinas SP, Brazil. roberto@ctec.ufal.br" |
ISSN/ISBN: | 0273-1223 (Print) 0273-1223 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "Wastewater generated in industrial production processes are often contaminated by hazardous chemicals. Characterization by means of toxicity-directed analysis is useful for identifying which fractions of a waste stream possess the most toxicity. We applied this approach to evaluate toxic components of a polyester manufacturing wastewater. Using the reduction in oxygen uptake rate of activated sludge as an indicator of toxicity, it was determined that increasing the pH from 3 to 11 followed by air stripping significantly reduced the toxicity of the wastewater. Comparative headspace GC/MS analysis of wastewater at different pHs selected a group of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) associated with the observed effect of air stripping at pH 11. Ten of these compounds were identified as alpha,beta unsaturated aldehydes (acrolein (2-propenal) congeners); these compounds are known to be toxic as well as mutagenic. Confirmation that these compounds were a cause of toxicity was achieved by demonstrating that removal of these compounds by air stripping significantly reduced the wastewater mutagenic potency in a Salmonella mutagenicity assay. Formation of these volatile compounds by base catalyzed aldol condensation at pH 11 may account for the effectiveness of air stripping in reducing toxicity. To date there is no record in the literature about the toxicity and presence of acrolein congeners in polyester manufacturing wastewater" |
Keywords: | "Aldehydes/chemistry/*toxicity Bacteria/drug effects *Biomass Bioreactors Hydrogen-Ion Concentration Industrial Waste Polyesters/*chemistry *Sewage Textile Industry Waste Disposal, Fluid/*methods Water Pollutants, Chemical/chemistry/toxicity;" |
Notes: | "MedlineCaffaro-Filho, R A Wagner, R Umbuzeiro, G A Grossman, M J Durrant, L R eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2010/04/27 Water Sci Technol. 2010; 61(9):2317-24. doi: 10.2166/wst.2010.054" |