![Sample our Engineering & Technology journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5933/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Engineering-Tech.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
The concentrations of 16 phthalate esters (PAEs) were detected in the sewage and sludge from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Qingdao, China. The total PAE concentrations in the influent samples from the Chengyang, Licun River, and Haibo River WWTPs were 134.42, 186.02, and 135.72 ng/mL, respectively. Dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dimethylglycol phthalate (DMGP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di(2-ethoxyethyl) phthalate (DEEP), dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP), and di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP) were all detected, with DMP being the most abundant compound. By contrast, the total PAE concentrations in the effluent samples from the three WWTPs were 39.91, 55.42, and 44.37 ng/mL. The removal efficiencies for individual PAEs in the three WWTPs varied widely. DMP and DEP were removed effectively in the Chengyang WWTP, whereas DMP and DnOP were removed relatively well in the Chengyang and Haibo River WWTPs. In the sludge from the Chengyang, Licun River, and Haibo River WWTPs, the total PAE contents were 96.46 mg/kg, 91.20 mg/kg, and 98.45 mg/kg, respectively. According to the mass balance, most PAEs (48.30%–56.31%) in the sewage decreased, and 43.69%–51.70% of total PAEs were discharged to the environment through the effluent and sludge.
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Funding
This work was supported by the Two Districts Foundation of Shandong Province, China (No. 2011-Yellow-19), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21307065), and the Foundation for Outstanding Young Scientist in Shandong Province (No. BS2012HZ005), the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province China (No. ZR201702210119), the Project of Shandong Province Higher Educational Science and Technology Program (No. J17KA110), and the Qingdao Agricultural University high-level personnel initial foundation (6631117020) and Science and Technology Plan Projects of Qingdao (12-1-3-64-nsh).