Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
The continued exponential growth in human population has created a corresponding increase in generation of biosolids, end product of wastewater treatment plants. The annual production of biosolids in the United States is projected to increase sharply to 47 million tons within the next decade. Land application is becoming a major means for biosolids disposal because of its beneficial effects on agricultural productivity of soils. However, due to its close association with human activities, biosolids often serve as a sink for anthropogenic organic chemicals that cannot be degraded during the wastewater treatment processes. EPA currently has no regulations on the levels of organic chemicals in biosolids although land application and landfill of biosolids could have a high potential of continuously introducing organic contaminants into the water resource due to surface runoff and leaching. Wastewater treatment plants in the Unite States and world-wide are in urgent need
for scientific sound information on the environmental fate of anthropogenic organic chemicals in wastewater and biosolids.
Impacts
A variety of anthropogenic organic chemicals were detected in biosolids from Georgia wastewater treatment plants. The levels of the detected anthropogenic organic chemicals in the biosolids ranged from parts per billion to parts per million. Nonylphenol, an endocrine disruptor, was detected up to 1000 parts per million in several biosolids from wastewater treatment plants servicing cities with heavy industry. Our recently laboratory study demonstrated a 55% reduction of NP in surface applied biosolids within 30 d light exposure. The data suggest that sensitized photolysis reactions may play important roles in degrading NP in surface applied biosolids. The safest approach to avoid potential detrimental effects of biosolids-associated anthropogenic organic chemicals to the environment is to ensure that the compounds are adequately degraded before biosolids land application. A recent pilot laboratory-controlled composting study provided further evidence that nonylphenol
can be effectively degraded during composting. They observed a rapid degradation of nonylphenol within 15 d composting, with a maximum removal rate of 80%. High temperatures can significantly hasten nonylphenol degradation during composting, but composting for longer times at lower temperatures can yield similar results. The knowledge gained from the currently project investigating the movement of biosolids- and wastewater-associated anthropogenic organic chemicals will be shared with WWTP mangers, decision makers, and the general publics by web communication, reports, presentations, and workshops
Publications
- Ferrell, J., B. K. Vencill, K. Xia, and T. Grey. 2005. Sorption and Desorption of Flumioxazin to Soil, Clay Minerals, and Ion-Exchange Resin. Pest Manag Sci. 61:40-46.
- Bhandari, A., and K. Xia. 2005. Hazardous Organic Chemicals in Biosolids Recycled as Soil Amendments. In The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry Vol. 1. Part F. Water Pollution: Environmental Impact Assessment of Recycled Wastes on Surface and Ground Waters: Chemodynamics, Toxicology, and Modeling. Aboul-Kassim, T. A.T. and Williamson, K. J. (Eds.), pp 217 - 239.
- Bhandari, A., and K. Xia. 2005. Sorption - Desorption of Organic and Inorganic Contaminants. In The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry Vol. 6. Part F. Natural Processes and Systems for Hazardous Waste Treatment. Aboul-Kassim, T. A.T. and Williamson, K. J. (Eds.) (accepted)
- Xia, K., A. Bhandari, K. Das, and G. D. Pillar. 2005. Occurrence and fate of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) in Biosolids. J. Environ. Qual.34:91-105.
- Fernando, N., and K. Xia. 2005. Sorption and Desorption of Ammonium from Swine Lagoon Waste in Soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 69:1057-1065.
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
The continued exponential growth in human population has created a corresponding increase in generation of biosolids, end product of wastewater treatment plants. The annual production of biosolids in the United States is projected to increase sharply to 47 million tons within the next decade. Land application is becoming a major means for biosolids disposal because of its beneficial effects on agricultural productivity of soils. However, due to its close association with human activities, biosolids often serve as a sink for anthropogenic organic chemicals that cannot be degraded during the wastewater treatment processes. EPA currently has no regulations on the levels of organic chemicals in biosolids although land application and landfill of biosolids could have a high potential of continuously introducing organic contaminants into the water resource due to surface runoff and leaching. Wastewater treatment plants in the Unite States and world-wide are in urgent need
for scientific sound information on the environmental fate of anthropogenic organic chemicals in wastewater and biosolids.
Impacts
A variety of anthropogenic organic chemicals were detected in biosolids from Georgia wastewater treatment plants. The levels of the detected anthropogenic organic chemicals in the biosolids ranged from parts per billion to parts per million. Nonylphenol, an endocrine disruptor, was detected up to 1000 parts per million in several biosolids from wastewater treatment plants servicing cities with heavy industry. Our recently laboratory study demonstrated a 55% reduction of NP in surface applied biosolids within 30 d light exposure. The data suggest that sensitized photolysis reactions may play important roles in degrading NP in surface applied biosolids. The safest approach to avoid potential detrimental effects of biosolids-associated anthropogenic organic chemicals to the environment is to ensure that the compounds are adequately degraded before biosolids land application. A recent pilot laboratory-controlled composting study provided further evidence that nonylphenol
can be effectively degraded during composting. They observed a rapid degradation of nonylphenol within 15 d composting, with a maximum removal rate of 80%. High temperatures can significantly hasten nonylphenol degradation during composting, but composting for longer times at lower temperatures can yield similar results. The knowledge gained from the currently project investigating the movement of biosolids- and wastewater-associated anthropogenic organic chemicals will be shared with WWTP mangers, decision makers, and the general publics by web communication, reports, presentations, and workshops
Publications
- Xia, K., A. Bhandari, K. Das, and G. D. Pillar. 2005. Occurrence and fate of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) in Biosolids. J. Environ. Qual.34:91-105.
- Fernando, N., and K. Xia. 2005. Sorption and Desorption of Ammonium from Swine Lagoon Waste in Soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. (In print)
- Xia, K., and C. Y. Jeong. 2004. Photodegradation of endocrine-disrupting chemical 4-nonylphenol in biosolids applied to soil. J. Environ. Qual. 33: 1568-1574.
- Bhandari, A., and K. Xia. 2004. Hazardous Organic Chemicals in Biosolids Recycled as Soil Amendments. In The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry Vol. 5. Part F. Water Pollution: Environmental Impact Assessment of Recycled Wastes on Surface and Ground Waters: Chemodynamics, Toxicology, and Modeling. Aboul-Kassim, T. A.T. and Williamson, K. J. (Eds.)
- Bhandari, A. and K. Xia. 2004. Fate and Transport of Nitrogen Compounds in Animal Waste Lagoons. in Animal Waste Containment in Lagoons. Ed: L.N. Reddi. American Society of Civil Engineers, Reston, VA. Pp: 11-26.
- Xia, K., and G. D. Pillar. 2003. Anthropogenic organic chemicals in biosolids from selected wastewater treatment plants in Georgia and South Carolina. pg. 806-809. In Kathryn Hatcher (ed.) Proc. 2003 Georgia Water Res. Conf. Athens, GA, April 23-24.
- Konwick, B. K. Xia, and M. Black. 2003. Potential for Toxic Effects of Biosolid Application to Ceriodaphnia dubia. pg. 814-817. In Kathryn Hatcher (ed.) Proc. 2003 Georgia Water Res. Conf. Athens, GA, April 23-24.
- Keller, H., K. Xia, and A. Bhandari. 2003. Occurrence and transformation of estrogenic nonylphenol polyethoxylates and their metabolites in three northeast Kansas wastewater treatment plants. Periodical of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste Management. 7:203-213.
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
The continued exponential growth in human population has created a corresponding increase in generation of biosolids, end product of wastewater treatment plants. The annual production of biosolids in the United States is projected to increase sharply to 47 million tons within the next decade. Land application is becoming a major means for biosolids disposal because of its beneficial effects on agricultural productivity of soils. However, due to its close association with human activities, biosolids often serve as a sink for anthropogenic organic chemicals that cannot be degraded during the wastewater treatment processes. EPA currently has no regulations on the levels of organic chemicals in biosolids although land application and landfill of biosolids could have a high potential of continuously introducing organic contaminants into the water resource due to surface runoff and leaching. Wastewater treatment plants in the Unite States and world-wide are in urgent need
for scientific sound information on the environmental fate of anthropogenic organic chemicals in wastewater and biosolids. The levels of a variety of organic chemicals were investigated in biosolids collected from 21 wastewater treatment plants, serving rural, industrial, and urban communities, across the State of Georgia. The potential for biosolids-associated organic chemicals to enter into the water environment through leaching is assessed. In collaboration with an agricultural engineer at UGA, a laboratory pilot-scale study is established followed by a commercial large-scale study to develop an aerobic bioprocess (composting) for enhancing degradation of organic chemicals in biosolids and to transfer the technology to users.
Impacts
A variety of anthropogenic organic chemicals were detected in biosolids from Georgia wastewater treatment plants. The levels of the detected anthropogenic organic chemicals in the biosolids ranged from parts per billion to parts per million. Nonylphenol, an endocrine disruptor, was detected up to 1000 parts per million in several biosolids from wastewater treatment plants servicing cities with heavy industry. A laboratory pilot-scale study is currently being conducted to develop an aerobic bioprocess to treat biosolids heavily contaminated with nonylphenol. Our results suggest that composting of biosolids with wood shavings can rapidly reduce nonylphenol levels within 20 days. The processes developed in this study will likely be effective to reduce other similar organic chemicals in biosolids. The knowledge gained will be shared with WWTP mangers, decision makers, and the general publics by web communication, reports, presentations, and workshops. The success of this
research will not only have significant economic impact on wastewater treatment plants in the United States and world-wide but also have tremendous environmental impact.
Publications
- Xia, K., and C. Y. Jeong. 2004. Photodegradation of endocrine-disrupting chemical 4-nonylphenol in biosolids applied to soil. J. Environ. Qual. (in press).
- Xia, K., and G. D. Pillar. 2003. Anthropogenic organic chemicals in biosolids from selected wastewater treatment plants in Georgia and South Carolina. pg. 806-809. In Kathryn Hatcher (ed.) Proc. 2003 Georgia Water Res. Conf. Athens, GA, April 23-24.
- Konwick, B. K. Xia, and M. Black. 2003. Potential for Toxic Effects of Biosolid Application to Ceriodaphnia dubia. pg. 814-817. In Kathryn Hatcher (ed.) Proc. 2003 Georgia Water Res. Conf. Athens, GA, April 23-24.
- Xia, K., A. Bhandari, K. C. Das, and G. D. Pillar, . 2004. Pharmaceuticals, Personal Care Products (PPCPs) in Biosolids. J. Environ. Qual. (submitted)
- Xia, K., and G. D. Pillar. 2003. Anthropogenic Organic Compounds in Biosolids. In Agronomy abstracts. ASA, Madison, WI.
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