Organophosphorus flame retardants and heavy metals in municipal landfill leachate treatment system in Guangzhou, China
Journal
Environmental Pollution
Journal Volume
236
Pages
137-145
Date Issued
2018
Author(s)
Abstract
The occurrence, distribution and removal efficiencies of organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) and metals were examined in a municipal landfill leachate treatment system in Guangzhou, China. Five OPFRs and thirty-five metals were detected in wastewater samples collected at different treatment stages. ∑OPFRs was reduced from 4807.02 ng L−1 to 103.91 ng L−1 through the treatment system, with close to 98% removed from the dissolved phase. Tris(clorisopropyl) phosphates (TCPPs) dominated through the treatment process and accounted for over 80% and 50% of ∑OPFRs at the influent and the effluent, respectively. TCPPs were most efficiently removed (98.6%) followed by tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) (96.6%) and triphenyl phosphate (TPP) (88.5%). For metals, Fe, Cr, and Rb were dominant in the raw leachate, detected at 7.55, 2.82, and 4.50 mg L−1, respectively. Thirteen regulated heavy metals – including eight major pollutants (i.e., As. Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) – have been detected in all wastewater samples at sub-mg L−1 levels. Over 99.5% removal was achieved for Cr, Ni, and Fe, and close to 95% removal efficiency was observed for Rb. For the eight major heavy metals, over 99% removal was observed; the only exception was Cu, which was removed at 89%. It was found that microfiltration/reverse osmosis was critical for the removal of OPFRs and heavy metals while the core biological treatment played a minor role towards their removal. Remobilization of Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Sb, and Sr from the returned sludge occurred during the second denitrification, indicating the need for additional post-biological process for effective removal of both contaminants. This study highlights the critical need to develop cheap, effective treatment technologies for contaminants-laden leachate generated from open dumps and under-designed landfills. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd
Subjects
Heavy metals; Leachate; Microfiltration; Organophosphorus flame retardants; Removal
SDGs
Other Subjects
Efficiency; Effluent treatment; Effluents; Flame retardants; Heavy metals; Microfiltration; Plasticizers; Removal; Wastewater treatment; Biological treatment; Different treatments; Leachates; Municipal landfill leachate; Organophosphorus flame retardants; Removal efficiencies; Treatment technologies; Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate; Leachate treatment; antimony; arsenic; cadmium; chromium; cobalt; copper; flame retardant; heavy metal; iron; lead; manganese; mercury; nickel; organophosphorus compound; phosphoric acid tris(2 chloroethyl) ester; rubidium; strontium; triphenyl phosphate; tris(clorisopropyl)phosphate; unclassified drug; zinc; flame retardant; heavy metal; organophosphate; filtration; flame retardant; heavy metal; landfill; leachate; municipal solid waste; organophosphate; pollutant removal; Article; China; concentration (parameters); controlled study; denitrification; effluent; landfill leachate; microfiltration; reverse osmosis; sludge; waste water treatment plant; water sampling; analysis; environmental monitoring; filtration; procedures; sewage; waste water; water pollutant; China; Guangdong; Guangzhou; China; Environmental Monitoring; Filtration; Flame Retardants; Metals, Heavy; Organophosphates; Sewage; Waste Disposal, Fluid; Waste Water; Water Pollutants, Chemical
Type
journal article