The Importance of Degradation in the Fate of Selected Organic Compounds in the Environment

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Recommended: course of environmental dégradation

Organic substances can enter the environment by several sources and pathways. One of the pathways is introduced through waste water or rain water flow into surface water. According to Abwasserverband Braunschweig (2014), approximately 700 liters of waste water per second with annual quantity of 22 million m3 waste water, mainly from household activity, are admitted to Steinhof Waste Water Treatment Plant in Braunschweig, Germany. The waste water treatment plant carries out mechanical and biological treatment for this waste water in multiple stages of processes. Then, the treated waste water, together with one from other indirect discharger, is used to infiltration and irrigation purpose which some parts of it might cease in the surface water. Monitoring for 30 years shows the other major indirect discharger for the waste water are garages, petrol stations, institutes or laboratories, waste water treatment plant and print shops (Abwaserverband Brauschweig, 2013).Therefore, a number of organic substances such as cellulose as a part of carbohydrate, protein, surfactants from detergents, which are main constituent of household waste water (Devi, 2005) and also phthalate, tend to introduce to the environment. Phthalate is released particularly from floor and wall coverings or textiles with PVC prints and also from vehicle washing (European Communities, 2001). Later, they may be subjected to transformation and degradation processes depend on the environmental compartment (Kot-wasik, 2004). In case of aquatic compartment, organic compounds are likely to undergo biodegradation or photodegradation as dominant degradation process in water (Dabrowska, 2004). Degradation commonly entails microorganism (biodegradation) in fragmentation or bre...

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Dow. (2010). Vinylbenzyl chloride. http://msdssearch.dow.com/PublishedLiteratureDOWCOM/dh_04d9/0901b803804d9caf.pdf?filepath=specialtymonomers/pdfs/noreg/504-00026.pdf&fromPage=GetDoc. Access : March 10th, 2014
Ezzeldin, H.A., Apblett, A., and Foutch, G.L. (2010). Synthesis and properties of anion exchangers derived from chloromethyl styrene codivinylbenzene and their use in water treatment. International Journal of Polymer Science. 2010. 1-9
Alchin, D (Service chemist, Drew New Zealand) with summary by Heather Wansbrough. (2008). Ion exchange resins. http://nzic.org.nz/ChemProcesses/water/13D.pdf. Access: March 1st, 2014

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