Synthetic Musk Fragrances in a Conventional Drinking Water Treatment Plant with Lime Softening
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 135, Issue 11
Abstract
Synthetic musk fragrances are common personal care product additives and wastewater contaminants that are routinely detected in the environment. This study examines the presence of eight synthetic musk fragrances [7-acetyl-1,1,3,4,4,6-hexamethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene (AHTN), 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8-hexamethylcyclopenta- -2-benzopyran (HHCB), 5-acetyl-1,1,2,6-tetramethyl-3-iso-propylindane (ATII), 4-acetyl-1,1-dimethyl-6-tert-butylindane (ADBI), 6-acetyl-1,1,2,3,3,5-hexamethylindane (AHMI), 6,7-dihydro-1,1,2,3,3,-pentamethyl-4-(5H)-indanone (DPMI), 1-tert-butyl-3,5-dimethyl-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (musk xylene), and 4-tert-butyl-3,5-dinitro-2,6-dimethylacetophenone (musk ketone)] in source water and the removal of these compounds as they flow through a Midwestern conventional drinking water plant with lime softening. The compounds were measured in water, waste sludge, and air throughout the plant. HHCB and AHTN were detected in 100% of the samples and at the highest concentrations. A mass balance on HHCB and AHTN was performed under warm and cold weather conditions. The total removal efficiency for HHCB and AHTN, which averaged between 67–89%, is dominated by adsorption to water softener sludge and its consequent removal by sludge wasting and media filtration. Volatilization, chlorine disinfection, and the disposal of backwash water play a minor role in the removal of both compounds. As a result of inefficient overall removal, HHCB and AHTN are a constant presence at low levels in finished drinking water.
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Acknowledgments
Funding for this work was provided by the Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination (CHEEC), the Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research (CGRER), the National Science Foundation (Grant No. NSFBES 0420378), and Iowa Superfund Basic Research Program (NIEHS Grant No. UNSPECIFIEDES013661). Additional tanks to Scott Slee and Ken Lloyd of the University of Iowa Drinking Water Plant for site access and their support of the project.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 135 • Issue 11 • November 2009
Pages: 1192 - 1198
Copyright
© 2009 ASCE.
History
Received: Dec 7, 2008
Accepted: Mar 20, 2009
Published online: Mar 23, 2009
Published in print: Nov 2009
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