Fate of the herbicide 14C-atrazine during sewage treatment on a lab-scale bioreactor

  • Jaime L. M. Oliveira DSSA/ENSP/FIOCRUZ
  • Edir M. Ferreira IMPPG/CCS/UFRJ
  • Denise da P. Silva DSSA/ENSP/FIOCRUZ
  • Márcia Dezotti PEQ/COPPE/UFRJ
  • Tomaz Langenbach IMPPG/CCS/UFRJ
Keywords: atrazine, activated sludge, persistent organic pollutants

Abstract

Atrazine (2-chloro-4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)-s-triazine) is a persistent herbicide used on some crops and it has been found both in ground and surface water and drainage systems. This work studied the behaviour of atrazine during a sewage treatment process by activated sludge. The process was conducted on a laboratory scale using an under fed-batch system with a hydraulic retention time of 24 hours. After this period, the raw sewage (with atrazine) was changed and another batch was begun (the sludge age was 7 days old). Radiolabel molecules (14C-atrazine) were used for to trace their fate and to measure to the 14C-CO2 and the residues of atrazine were analysed by HPLC/UV. Initially about 50% of radioactivity was sorbed by the settled sludge but it was desorbed with successive additions of raw sewage without atrazine. The final balance of radioactivity showed that 98% of the atrazine was released into the treated effluent, probably without any biodegradation. Therefore, other organic micropollutants with similar characteristics to atrazine may behave a similar way.

Author Biography

Jaime L. M. Oliveira, DSSA/ENSP/FIOCRUZ
I have a degree in Biological Sciences (1999) and M.Sc (2004) and Dr.Sc. (2008) in Microbiology with an emphasis on environmental everyone from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. I am currently a teacher / researcher and technician of the Department of Sanitation and Environmental Health, National School of Public Health / Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. I have experience in Sanitary Engineering with emphasis in Applied Microbiology and Sanitary Engineering, acting on the following topics: biodegradation, pesticides, endocrine estrogen, organic micropollutant, activated sludge, protozoa, biomarkers, toxicity and treatment of sewage sludge.
Published
27/08/2013
Section
Papers