Study on Species and Distribution of Volatile Organic Compounds in WWTP

Abstract

This study carried on a qualitative analysis on emission and distribution of VOCs and quantitative analysis on BTEX and chlorinated hydrocarbon emitted from a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). At the same time, the variations of BETX and chlorinated hydrocarbon in three-phases in the biological treatment process in lab-scale were investigated. Results revealed that the low molecular weight hydrocarbon, BTEX (benzene, toluene, xylene) and chlorinated hydrocarbons (chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, chlorylene, tetrachloroethylene) were the main components of VOCs. Primary clarifier volatilized thirty-three species of VOCs, which was most in the WWTP. The remaining organic compounds in this unit belonged to refractory organics that was hardly decomposed by microbe. The more complex aromatic compounds in VOCs were detected.