Treatability of nonylphenol ethoxylate surfactants in on-site wastewater disposal systems
Abstract
The fate of nine-mole nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPE9) discharged to an on-site wastewater disposal (septic) system was the focus of a 2-year investigation. Known amounts of NPE9-based detergent were metered daily into the plumbing at a single-family household. The ethoxylate-containing wastewater was discharged to the highly anoxic environment of a 4500-L septic tank before distribution to the oxic subsurface via 100 m of leach line. After 180 days of injecting detergent to the septic system, periodic soil pore water and/or groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), nonylphenol ether carboxylates, and nonylphenol. The NPE9 and degradation intermediates that were measured were reduced by 99.99% on a molar basis. An 18% reduction in molar concentration within the septic tank was observed. This was followed by a further 96.7% reduction of molar concentration within the leach lines. As the pore water migrated through the vadose zone, an additional 99.69% reduction in molar concentration was measured between the bottom of the leach lines (leach line effluent) and the lowest vadose zone monitoring location. The results obtained from these analyses indicate that degradation of the surfactant occurs within the anoxic portion of the disposal system with continued rapid biodegradation in the oxic unsaturated zone. Only trace amounts of degradation residuals were detected in soil pore water. The concentration and distribution of various degradation intermediates with respect to location, time, and ambient physical conditions were evaluated. Rapid and systematic degradation of NPE in on-site wastewater disposal systems was documented.
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While NP and NPEOs have been measured at 10s to 100s of μg/L in septic tanks, some studies have found >90% removal in septic system drainfields.
“While NP and NPEOs have been measured at 10s to 100s of μg/L in septic tanks (Hinkle et al., 2005;Stanford and Weinberg, 2010), some studies have found N90% removal in septic system drainfields (Huntsman et al., 2006).”
From Septic systems as sources of organic wastewater compounds in domestic drinking water wells in a shallow sand and gravel aquifer (2016) · cites this paper as Huntsman et al., 2006
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- Authors
- Huntsman, B. E., Staples, C. A., Naylor, C. G., & Williams, J.
- Affiliations
- Artann Laboratories, Inc. (US)
- Venue
- Water Environment Research
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2006-11
- Volume
- 78
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 2397-2404
- ISSN
- 0043-1303 (ISSN-L)
- 1061-4303
- 1554-7531
- OpenAlex
- W147779028
- Cited by
- 21
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2020: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 1.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Water Environment Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Alkylphenol and Ethoxylates Research Council (Washington, D.C.)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Environmental Chemistry and Analysis
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microbial bioremediation and biosurfactants
- Keywords
- nonylphenol ethoxylates, surfactant biodegradation, septic systems, on-site wastewater disposal, degradation intermediates, nonylphenol, vadose zone, soil pore water, groundwater contamination, oxic and anoxic conditions
- MeSH terms
- Biodegradation, Environmental, Ethylene Glycols, Phenols, Sewage, Soaps, Surface-Active Agents, Waste Disposal, Fluid, Water Pollutants, Chemical
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