Biogeochemical Behaviour of Alkvlphenol Pol Vethoxvlates in the Aquatic Environment
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BIOGEOCHEMICAL BEHAVIOUR OF ALKVLPHENOL POL VETHOXVLATES IN THE AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT A dissertation submitted to the UNIVERSITY OF ZAGREB INSTITUTE "RUDJER BO~KOVIC" for the degree of DOCTOR OF NATURAL SCIENCES presented by MARIJAN AHEL dipl. biotechnol., University of Zagreb M.Sc. Marine Sciences, University of Zagreb born on 3 October 1951 citizen of Zagreb, Croatia, Yugoslavia Accepted on recommendation of Dr. Walter Giger Dr. Bo~ena Cosovic Dr. Nikola Bl~evic Dr. Sonja lskric Dr. Leo Klasinc Zagreb 1987 The following parts of this dissertation have been published: Section 3.1. Analytical Chemistry 1985, 57, 1577-1583. Analytical Chemistry 1985, 57, 2584-2590. Environmental Science & Technology 1987, 21, 697-703. Section 3.3. Vom Wasser 1986, 67, 69-81. Water Science & Technology 1987, 19, 449-460. Gas-Wasser-Abwasser 1987, 67, 111-122. 'Io my sons I van, 'Ivrt{\g, Ja{\gv, and Juraj ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am especially greatful to Dr. Walter Giger for his whole hearted support during this study. I have found in him an inspired teacher and a dear friend. I owe my special thanks to Professor Werner Stumm, Director of the Swiss Federal Institute for Water Resources and Water Pollution Control, who made it possible for me to work in this renowned Institution. I am also indebted to Dr. Bozena Cosovic for the encouragement and under- standing and for useful advice while writing this thesis. This dissertation would not have been possible without the support of many collegues and friends from the Chemistry Department of EAWAG and from the Center for Marine Research Zagreb of the Institute "Rudjer Boskovic" to whom I am indebted. - Christian Schaffner, for his expert technical assistance and invaluable advice in practical problems - Dr. James McEvoy for his expert advice in mass spectrometry, and for his help during sampling and analysing biological samples - Helga Ponusz for analysing the river water samples in my absence - Dr. Frank Scully, Dr. Bruce Faust, Dr. Verena Sturzenegger, and Professor JOrg Hoigne for their expert help during the investigation of the photochemical degradation - Dr. Theodor Conrad and Dr. Dubravka Hrsak for the help and advice while conducting experiments on biological degradation - Andrija Roman and Heidi Bolliger for the drawings - Nena Granic and ljiljana Cepulic for typing the manuscript - Dr. Damir Krznaric and Lela Krznari6 for helping translate the manuscript to english Table of Contents PROBLEM STATEMENT AND SCOPE OF THE WORK ................................... 1 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 2 1.1. Ecological Acceptability of Surfactants ............................................... 2 1.1.1. Definition, Classification and Characteristics of Surfactants ........... 2 1.1.2. Manufacture and Usage of Surfactants........................................... 3 1.1.3. Input, Behaviour and Harmful Effects on the Environment... .......... 4 1.1.4. Biodegradability of Surfactants ....................................................... 5 1.2. Nonionic Surfactants. ............................................................................. 6 1.2.1. Types, Production and Usage......................................................... 6 1 .2.2. Physico-chemical Properties ........................................................... 8 1.2.3. Analytical Determination ............................................................... 1o 1.2.4. Biological Degradation .................................................................. 14 1.2.5. Occurrence in the Environment and Harmful Effects .................... 17 2. EXPERIMENT AL.......................................................................................... 19 2.1. Materials ................................................................................................ 19 2.1.1. Chemicals ..................................................................................... 19 2.1.2. Solutions and Reagents ...................................•............................ 20 2.1.3. Equipment. .................................................................................... 22 2.2. Analytical Procedures for the Determination of Alkylphenol Polyethoxylates and Their Metabolites .............................................. 23 2.2.1. Extraction and Purification of Extracts .......................................... 23 2.2.1.1. Alkylphenol Polyethoxylates ...................•...........•.............. 23 2.2.1.2. Lipophilic Alkylphenol Ethoxylates and Alkylphenols ........ 25 2.2.1.3. Alkylphenoxy Carboxylic Acids .......................................... 26 2.2.2. Preparative Separation and Determination of Response Factors........................................................................................... 28 2.2.2.1. Alkylphenol Ethoxylates .................................................... 28 2.2.2.2. Alkylphenoxy Carboxylic Acids .......................................... 29 2.2.3. Instrumental Methods.................................................................... 29 2.2.3.1. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) .......... 29 2.2.3.2. High-Resolution Gas Chromatography (HRGC) ............... 31 2.2.3.3. High-Resolution Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (HRGC/MS) ................................................ 31 2.2.3.4. Other lnstruments.............................................................. 32 2.3. Determination of Solubility In Water................................................... 32 2.4. Determination of Partition Coefficients between Water and Organic Solvents .................................................................................. 33 2.5. Determination of Biodegradability ...................................................... 34 2.6. Determination of Photochemical Degradability................................. 36 2. 7. Sampling................................................................................................ 38 II 3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ...................................................................... 39 3.1. Determination of Alkylphenol Polyethoxylates and Their Metabolites ............................................................................................ 39 3.1.1. Determination of Alkylphenol Ethoxylates and Alkylphenols ......... 39 3.1.1.1. Chromatographic Separation ............................................. 39 3.1.1.2. Response Factors of Alkylphenol and Alkylphenol Ethoxylates ....................................................................... 45 3.1.1.3. Extraction and Purification of Extracts. .............................. 47 3.1.1.4. Accuracy, Precision and Sensitivity................................... 50 3.1.1.5. Application ......................................................................... 52 3.1.2. Determination of Alkylphenoxy Carboxylic Acids .......................... 60 3.1.2.1. Chromatographic Separation and Identification of Alkylphenoxy Carboxylic Acids ......................................... 60 3.1.2.2. Chromatographic Separation and Identification of Methyl Esters of Alkylphenoxy Carboxylic Acids .............. 63 3.1.2.3. Response Factors ............................................................. 68 3.1.2.4. Extraction, Extract Purification and Derivatization ............. 69 3.1.2.5. Application ......................................................................... 73 3.2. Physlco-chemical and Biological Behaviour of Alkylphenol Polyethoxylates and Their Degradation Products............................. 78 3.2.1. Solubility in Water ......................................................................... 78 3.2.1.1. Solubility of Pure APEO Oligomers ......................... : ......... 78 3.2.1.2. Dependence of Solubility upon Temperature .................... 80 3.2.1.3. Solubility of APEO in Mixtures........................................... 82 3.2.2. Partition between Water and Organic Solvents ............................ 84 3.2.3. Biological Degradation .................................................................. 89 3.2.3.1. Biological Degradation of Alkylphenol Polyethoxylates .......................................................................................... 89 3.2.3.2. Biodegradation of APEO and AP in Synthetic Sewage Using Shake Culture Test. ................................................ 90 3.2.3.3. Biodegradation of APEO and AP in Mineral Medium Using Shake Culture Test ................................................. 94 3.2.3.4. Biodegradation of APEO and AP in River Water Test .......................................................................................... 97 3.2.3.5. Biodegradation of APEO and AP in Modified Closed Bottle Test.. ..................................................................... 100 3.2.3.6. Degradation Products of APEO....................................... 102 3.2.4. Photochemical Degradation ........................................................ 104 3.2.4.1. Direct Photolysis.............................................................. 104 3.2.4.2. Sensitized Photolysis....................................................... 105 3.2.4.3. Photolysis in the Presence of Hydrogen Peroxide .......... 109 3.2.4.4. Photolysis by Sunlight.. ................................................... 111 3.3. Occurrence and Behaviour of Alkylphenol Polyethoxylates and Their Degradation Products In Sewage Treatment Plants.............. 115 3.3.1. Characteristics of Investigated Sewage Treatment