A Mechanistic Model to Assess the Fate of Naphthalene and Benzo(a)pyrene in a Chilean WWTP
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2021Metadata
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Arroyo, Antonia
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A Mechanistic Model to Assess the Fate of Naphthalene and Benzo(a)pyrene in a Chilean WWTP
Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a family of organic compounds of widespread
presence in the environment. They are recalcitrant, ubiquitous, prone to bioaccumulation, and
potentially carcinogenic. Effluent from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) constitutes a major
source of PAHs into water bodies, and their presence should be closely monitored, especially
considering the increasing applications of potable and non-potable reuse of treated wastewater
worldwide. Modeling the fate and distribution of PAHs in WWTPs is a valuable tool to overcome the
complexity and cost of monitoring and quantifying PAHs. A mechanistic model was built to evaluate
the fate of PAHs in both water and sludge lines of a Chilean WWTP. Naphthalene and benzo(a)pyrene
were used as models of low-MW and high-MW PAHs. As there were no reported experimental data
available for the case study, the influent load was determined through a statistical approach based on
reported values worldwide. For both naphthalene and benzo(a)pyrene, the predominant mechanism
in the water line was sorption to sludge, while that in the sludge line was desorption. Compared to
other studies in the literature, the model satisfactorily describes the mechanisms involved in the fate
and distribution of PAHs in a conventional activated sludge WWTP. Even though there is evidence
of the presence of PAHs in urban centers in Chile, local regulatory standards do not consider PAHs
in the disposal of WWTP effluents. Monitoring of PAHs in both treated effluents and biosolids is
imperative, especially when considering de facto reuse and soil amendment in agricultural activities
are currently practiced downstream of the studied WWTP.
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ANID PCI REDI170494
Universidad de Chile, Vicerrectoria de Investigacion y Desarrollo
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