Humic substances – common carriers of micropollutants in municipal engineering
Authors:
- Anna M. Anielak,
- Katarzyna Styszko,
- Aneta Kłeczek,
- Dominika Łomińska-Płatek
Abstract
Research over several years has shown that municipal engineering is an important source of humic substance formation (HS). Effluents from municipal landfills and digested sludge, due to high concentrations of organic pollutants, including HS and inorganic pollutants, are discharged to a biological treatment plant, where their largely non-biodegradable pollutants constitute a burden on the activated sludge and generate problems related to wastewater treatment. To demonstrate that humic substances, primarily soluble acids, are the carriers of micro-pollutants, their isolation was carried out from samples taken at different municipal management sites. The following analyses were performed: elemental composition, and the content of inorganic micropollutants, including heavy metals. In addition, the sorption affinity of pure HS to selected pharmaceuticals was investigated. The sorbed pharmaceuticals were Diclofenac and Estrone. HS commonly found in municipal engineering have been shown to be carriers of inorganic and organic micropollutants, including pharmaceuticals. Based on the study data, surface water’s primary source of micropollutants is treated municipal wastewater and fulvic acids are the transfer agent. To demonstrate the locations of HS occurrence within municipal engineering and the micropollutants they carry, their isolation was carried out from samples taken at different municipal management sites. Fulvic acids were studied due to their high mobility. Extraction was carried out according to the method recommended by the International Humic Substances Society (IHSS) with the author’s modification. The following analyses were performed: elemental composition (N, C, O, and H); the content of inorganic micropollutants, including heavy metals; and the IR spectrum. In addition, the sorption affinity of pure HS to selected pharmaceuticals was investigated. The sorbed pharmaceuticals were Diclofenac and Estrone. The study confirmed the occurrence of HS in municipal landfill effluents, activated sludge, excess and digested sludge effluents, and treated wastewater. At the same time, HS commonly found in municipal engineering have been shown to be carriers of inorganic and organic micropollutants, including pharmaceuticals.
- Record ID
- CUT4913bf3cab174fb2a37a93f7ffe518db
- Publication categories
- ;
- Author
- Journal series
- Energies, ISSN , e-ISSN 1996-1073, Biweekly
- Issue year
- 2022
- Vol
- 15
- No
- 22
- Pages
- [1-12]
- Article number
- 8496
- Other elements of collation
- rys.; tab.; wykr.; Bibliografia (na s.) - 11-12; Bibliografia (liczba pozycji) - 33; Oznaczenie streszczenia - Abstr.; Numeracja w czasopiśmie - Vol. 15, Iss. 22
- Substantive notes
- This article belongs to the Special Issue: Energy and Matter Recovery from Organic Waste Processing and Reuse Volume 2
- Keywords in Polish
- substancje humusowe, mikrozanieczyszczenia, gospodarka komunalna
- Keywords in English
- humic substances, micropollutants, municipal engineering
- ASJC Classification
- DOI
- DOI:10.3390/en15228496 Opening in a new tab
- URL
- https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/22/8496 Opening in a new tab
- Related project
- Innowacyjna i nisko energetyczna metoda usuwania związków azotu ze ścieków komunalnych. . Project leader at PK: , ,
- Language
- eng (en) English
- License
- Score (nominal)
- 140
- Score source
- journalList
- Score
- Publication indicators
- Additional fields
- Indeksowana w: Web of Science, Scopus
- Uniform Resource Identifier
- https://cris.pk.edu.pl/info/article/CUT4913bf3cab174fb2a37a93f7ffe518db/
- URN
urn:pkr-prod:CUT4913bf3cab174fb2a37a93f7ffe518db
* presented citation count is obtained through Internet information analysis, and it is close to the number calculated by the Publish or PerishOpening in a new tab system.