Laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the fate of the antimicrobial agent triclosan (TCS) in a conventional septic tank. The main mechanism of TCS removal from wastewater was identified to be rapid TCS sorption to suspended particles followed by settling of these particles to the bottom of the septic tank. Sorption to particles was completed within minutes while the settling took several days. Therefore, in a septic tank the removal of TCS from wastewater is mainly determined by the removal of suspended particles by sedimentation. Over 5 days of hydraulic residence time the initial dissolved TCS concentration of 100 μg L−1 was reduced by 87 ± 8%. During the first 24 hours, 66–86% of all removed TCS was retained, whereas during the remainder of the experiment a slight but steady decrease in TCS concentration was observed. This was most likely caused by TCS diffusion and its subsequent sorption onto the septic sludge.
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Research Article|
June 11 2014
Retainment of the antimicrobial agent triclosan in a septic tank Available to Purchase
Ala Kirjanova;
1Department of Water Management, Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Sauletekio 11, LT–10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
E-mail: [email protected]
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Mindaugas Rimeika;
Mindaugas Rimeika
1Department of Water Management, Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Sauletekio 11, LT–10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
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Jes Vollertsen;
Jes Vollertsen
2Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Aalborg University, Sohngaardsholmsvej 57, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
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Asbjørn Haaning Nielsen
Asbjørn Haaning Nielsen
2Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Aalborg University, Sohngaardsholmsvej 57, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
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Water Sci Technol (2014) 70 (4): 586–592.
Article history
Received:
February 17 2014
Accepted:
May 29 2014
Citation
Ala Kirjanova, Mindaugas Rimeika, Jes Vollertsen, Asbjørn Haaning Nielsen; Retainment of the antimicrobial agent triclosan in a septic tank. Water Sci Technol 1 August 2014; 70 (4): 586–592. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2014.271
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