ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING FOR LINEAR ALKYLBENZENE SULFONATES, DIALKYLTETRALIN SULFONATES AND THEIR BIODEGRADATION INTERMEDIATES

Concentrations of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS), dialkyltetrali n sulfonates (DATS), and their biodegradation intermediates are report ed for the influents and effluents of 10 U.S. domestic wastewater trea tment plants as well as upstream and downstream river waters and sedim ents. Three types of treatment facilities in 10 U.S. states were sampl ed and analyzed. Removals were calculated based on initial concentrati ons of LAS and DATS. A derivatization electron capture/gas chromatogra phy/mass spectrometry method was employed. Its increased sensitivity a nd selectivity permitted the determination of environmental levels of LAS, DATS, and their biodegradation intermediates at low micrograms pe r liter (ppb) concentrations. The removal from four activated sludge a nd five trickling filter wastewater treatment facilities averaged 99.5 % and 82.9% for LAS and 99.1% and 97.3% for LAS intermediates, respect ively, for the activated sludge and trickling filter facilities. In th e same plants, percent removals for DATS averaged 95% and 63.2% and DA TS intermediates 59.1% and 58.7%, respectively. The removals obtained by a rotating biological contactor were similar to those observed in t he activated sludge wastewater treatment facilities.