This paper is intended to provide overview information on where microconstituents originate and how to implement measures to reduce the presence of microconstituents in wastewater discharges that may ultimately end up in the water environment. The paper summarizes some of the information that was developed by the Water Environment Federation, Community of Practice for Microconstituents developed a Technical Practice Update (TPU) titled “Sources of Microconstituents and Endocrine Disrupting Compounds” in July 2007; and the subsequent TPU titled “Source Control of Microconstituents”. It addresses sources of microconstituents from pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCP’s), industrial, and other sources. Options are presented with examples for reduction of microconstituents in the water sector through means of take-back programs, prescription recycling programs, product stewardship and product bans. Source: WEFTEC 2009 Proceedings
Metric Used:
Posted: August 27th, 2010 | Filed under: Waste Water Treatment | Tags: Decrease Microconstituents, Environmental Impact, Reduce Human Health Risks | No Comments »
Some Microconstituents are known or potential Endocrine Disruptor Compounds (EDCs). Known EDCs can come from groups of compounds such as human and veterinary drugs, pesticides and industrial chemicals. Only some of the compounds in these groups are EDCs. EDCs include naturally occurring and synthetic steroid hormones, organohalides, metals, alkylphenols, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, crude oil and plasticizers. These compounds may interfere with hormone processes in both humans and wildlife. EDCs are being detected more in the environment in water, wastewater and biosolids as more studies are done and analytical techniques have progressed. This topic has galvanized the scientific, regulatory and public communities alike. This paper discusses the physical and chemical properties of these microconstituents and what types of treatment technologies are evaluated and used on projects. An approach for evaluating and developing wastewater treatment solutions is discussed. The approach includes first using process modeling to determine expected treatment performance using the physical and chemical properties. Bench-scale and pilot-scale treatability studies are then included in the approach to test treatment processes in the laboratory or field prior to design. Another part of the approach is developing and using cost and non-cost evaluation criteria to screen alternatives prior to the treatability testing. Three pharmaceutical case studies will be presented to show how treatment solutions are both plant location and compound specific. One case study will show how a pharmaceutical compound, which passes through conventional treatment, can be destroyed in pretreatment and reduce effluent toxicity. A second case study will show how one company determined the removal of a pharmaceutical active through treatability testing. A third case study will show an approach for determining the ultimate fate of the microconstituents and what percentage ends up in the treated effluent and in biosolids. The various case studies will show how the approach ties together the key issues and selection criteria to the overall selection of technologies. The combination of treatment technologies selected is used to achieve treatment/destruction of microconstituents and EDCs and determine the ultimate fate of the EDCs through treatment. Source: WEFTEC 2009 Proceedings
Metric Used:
Posted: August 27th, 2010 | Filed under: Waste Water Treatment, Water Treatment | Tags: Decrease Microconstituents, Environmental Impact, Reduce Effluent Toxicity, Reduce Human Health Risks | No Comments »