Fate of Emerging Contaminants in Biosolids on Thermal Pretreatment and Mesophilic Anaerobic Digestion

Balasundaram, G., Gahlot, P., Tyagi, V.T., Kazmi, A.A., Kleiven, H., Sahu, A.K.

18th IWA Conference on Sustainable Sludge Management (IWA2024)

Introduction & Significance

Thermal hydrolysis process (THP) followed by anaerobic digestion (AD) for biosolids 
management has been used by several utilities worldwide. Today, new challenges like the  presence of organic micropollutants in biosolids for land application are questioned. Less  researched aspect of the THP is the fate of emerging contaminants and organic micropollutants 
(OMPs) in the context of municipal sludge. OMPs involve personal care products,  pharmaceuticals, pesticides, steroid hormones, and industrial chemicals. The concentrations of  these compounds may vary from some ng/kg to µg/kg dry weight basis. Due to the analytical complexities, little attention has been given to analysing OMPs in the sludge matrix. In this 
study, selected hormones, antibiotics and common substances were investigated.

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