Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Distribution of polychlorinated biphenyls in both products and by-products of a mussel shell incinerator facility

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Solid waste incineration has recently attracted much attention because the combustion process involved produces highly toxic organohalogen contaminants such as dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) present in fly ash. This has raised the need for simple, rapid, accurate methods for monitoring PCBs in ash samples.

Methods

A method for the simultaneous quantitative determination of indicator, non-ortho and mono-ortho PCBs based on ultrasound-assisted extraction with 50:50 (v/v) n-hexane/acetone was developed, validated, and subsequently applied to real samples from a mussel shell incinerator facility in Galicia. The overall method quantification limits range from 0.35 to 1.5 ng/g in fly ash waste, from 0.30 to 1.0 ng/g in bottom ashes, and from 1.0 to 2.0 ng/g in sludge samples. Mean recoveries between 70% and 105% are achieved.

Results

DL-PCBs were identified in ash and in sludge samples collected from the wastewater treatment plant of the waste incineration facility. The enrichment factors for fly ash ranged from 3.3 to 3.7. Sewage sludge was also found to contain some polychlorinated biphenyls such as PCB 77 (29 ± 5.0 ng/g; n = 4) and PCB 169 (6.9 ± 0.89 ng/g; n = 4), as well as three of the seven PCB-like indicators, namely: PCB 138 (14 ± 4.4 ng/g), PCB 153 (6.1 ± 1.4 ng/g), and PCB 180 (7.7 ± 3.0 ng/g). Toxicity equivalent concentrations were 0.0054 ng/g for bottom ash, 0.0264 ng/g for fly ash, and 3.6 ng/g for sewage sludge; these values are well below the limit for DL-PCBs in wastes recently set by the European Union.

Conclusions

All samples studied contained PCBs at levels below the maximum tolerated limit established by European legislation. Based on their PCB content, the studied sewage sludge can be used as a soil amendment with no health risk. Also, fly ash and sewage sludge can be deemed stable PCB reservoirs releasing PCBs at concentrations below the regulatory cutoff to runoff water.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • American Chemical Society (ACS) Subcommittee on Environmental Analytical Chemistry (1980) Guidelines for data acquisition and data quality evaluation in environmental chemistry. Anal Chem 52:2242–2249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Antunes P, Viana P, Vinhas T, Capelo JL, Rivera J, Gaspar ES (2009) Optimization of pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) of dioxin-furans and dioxin-like PCBs from environmental samples. Talanta 75:916–925

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buekens A, Huang H (1998) Comparative evaluation of techniques for controlling the formation and emission of chlorinated dioxins/furans in municipal waste incineration. J Hazard Mater 62:1–33

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cheon SM, Song TW (2003) Study on formation of cement clinker from the mixture of oyster shell, casting dust and BOF slag. J Korean Ceram Soc 40:1235–1240

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • COM 666 (2005) Commission communication of 21 December 2005. Taking sustainable use of resources forward: A Thematic Strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste. European Union law web. Available from: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2005:0666:FIN:EN:PDF. Accessed on 10 November 2010

  • COM 670 (2005) Commission communication of 21 December 2005.Thematic Strategy on the sustainable use of natural resources.European Union law web. Available from: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2005:0670:FIN:EN:PDF. Accessed on 10 November 2010

  • Council Regulation (EC) No.850/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on Persistent Organic Pollutants and Amending Directive 79/117/EEC (2004). Official Journal of the European Union. L 229:5–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Council Regulation (EC) No.1195/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2006 on Persistent Organic Pollutants and Amending Regulation (CE) 850/2004. Official Journal of the European Union. L 217:1–3

  • DeVito MJ, Birnbaum LS, Farland WH, Gasiewicz TA (1995) Comparisons of estimated human body burdens of dioxin-like chemicals and tcdd body burdens in experimentally exposed animals. Environ Health Perspect 103:820–831

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Directive 2000/76/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 December 2000 on the Incineration of Waste (2000) Official Journal of the European Communities L 332:91–111

    Google Scholar 

  • Directive 2006/12/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2006 on waste (2006) Official Journal of the European Union L114:9–21

    Google Scholar 

  • EPA (1999) Compendium method TO-10A: Determination of pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in ambient air using low volume polyurethane foam (PUF) Sampling followed by gas chromatographic/multi-detector detection (GC/MD). In: Compendium of methods for the determination of toxic organic compounds in ambient air, 2nd Edition (EPA/625/R-96/010b). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Cincinati, OH 45268, pp 10A1–10A32

  • Errekatxo A, Prieto A, Zuloaga O, Usobiaga A, Etxebarria N, Fernández LA (2008) Simultaneous extraction of several persistent organic pollutants in sediment using focused ultrasonic solid–liquid extraction. Anal BioanalChem 392:1471–1478

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • EU (1986) Council directive 86/278/EEC on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture. Off J Eur Union L181:6–12

    Google Scholar 

  • EU (1998) Council Directive 98/83/EC on the quality of water intended for human consumption. Off J Eur Union L330:32–54

    Google Scholar 

  • EU (2000) Working document on sludge, 3rd draft. http://www.ewaonline.de/downloads/ sludge_en.pdf. Accessed 10 November 2010

  • García-Falcón MS, Pérez-Lamela C, Simal-Gándara J (2004) Strategies for the extraction of free and bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in run-off waters rich in organic matter. Anal ChimActa 508:177–183

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagenmaier H, Kraft M, Brunner H, Haag R (1987) Catalytic effects of fly ash from waste incineration facilities on the formation and decomposition of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans. Environ SciTechnol 21:1080–1084

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu GJ, Chen SL, Zhao YG, Sun C, Li J, Wang H (2009) Persistent toxic substances in agricultural soils of Lishui County, Jiangsu Province, China. B Environ Contam Tox 82(1):48–54

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang Y, Takaoka M, Takeda N, Oshita K (2007) Partial Removal of PCDD/Fs, coplanar PCBs, and PCBs from municipal solid waste incineration fly ash by a column flotation process. Environ SciTechnol 41:257–262

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hubert A, Wenzel KD, Engelwald W, Schuurmann G (2001) Accelerated solvent extraction—more efficient extraction of POPs and PAHs from real contaminated plant and soil samples. Rev Anal Chem 20:101–104

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kutz FW, Barnes DG, Bottimore DP, Greim H, Bretthauser EW (1990) The International Toxicity Equivalency Factor (I-TEF) method of risks assessment for complex mixtures of dioxins and related compounds. Chemosphere 20:751–757

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Labropoulou DL, Alabanis TA (2004) Determination of the fungicides vinclozolin and dicloran in soils using ultrasonic extraction coupled with solid-phase microextraction. Anal ChimActa 514:125–130

    Google Scholar 

  • López-Ávila V, Benedicto J, Charan C, Young R, Beckert WF (1995) Determination of PCBs in soils/sediments by microwave-assisted extraction and GC/ECD or ELISA. Environ SciTechnol 29:2709–2712

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lundin L, Marklund S (2007) Thermal degradation of PCDD/F, PCB and HCB in municipal solid waste ash. Chemosphere 67:474–481

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luque-García JL, Luque de Castro MD (2002) Continuous ultrasound-assisted extraction of hexavalent chromium from soil with or without on-line preconcentration prior to photometric monitoring. Analyst 127:1115–1120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mackay D, Shiu WY, Ma KC (1992) Illustrated handbook of physical chemical properties and environmental fate for organic chemicals. Volume II: polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated dioxins, and dibenzofurans. Lewis Publishers, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministerio de Agricultura Pesca y Alimentación (MAPA, 2008). Informe 2007. Valoración de la acuicultura en España. Ed. Ministerio de Agricultura Pesca y Alimentación, Madrid

  • Mussel from Galicia (2009) Regulatory council website. Available from: http://www.mexillondegalicia.org. Accessed on 10 November 2010

  • Priego-López E, Luque de Castro MD (2003a) Ultrasound-assisted derivatization of phenolic compounds in spiked water samples before pervaporation, gas chromatographic separation, and flame ionization detection. Chromatographia 57:513–518

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Priego-López E, Luque de Castro MD (2003b) Ultrasound-assisted extraction of nitropolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from soil prior to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry detection. J Chromatogr A 1018:1–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rey-Salgueiro L, García-Falcón MS, Soto-González B, Simal-Gándara J (2004) Procedure to measure the level of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in wood ashes used as fertilizer in agroforestry soils and their transfer from ashes to water. J Agric Food Chem 52:3900–3904

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rocco G, Toledo C, Ahumada I, Sepúlveda B, Cañete A (2008) Determination of polychlorinated biphenyls in biosolids using continuous ultrasound-assisted pressurized solvent extraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr A 1193:32–36

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Song YF, Jing X, Fleischmann S, Wilke BM (2002) Comparative study of extraction methods for the determination of PAHs from contaminated soils and sediments. Chemosphere 48:993–1001

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stieglitz L, Vogg H (1987) On formation conditions of PCDD and PCDF in fly-ash from municipal waste incinerators. Chemosphere 16:1917–1922

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun F, Littlejohn D, Gibson M (1998) Ultrasonication extraction and solid phase extraction clean-up for determination of US EPA 16 priority pollutant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soils by reversed-phase liquid chromatography with ultraviolet absorption detection. Anal ChimActa 364:1–11

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Visez N, Sawerysyn JP (2005) On the thermal degradation of PCDD/Fs promoted by CuCl or CuCl2 at 350°C. Organohalog Compd 67:2195–2199

    Google Scholar 

  • Visez N, Baillet C, Sawerysyn JP (2004) Formation of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins, benzenes and phenols from thermal degradation of 2-chlorophenol promoted by CuCl2. Organohalog Compd 66:1062–1070

    Google Scholar 

  • Weber R, Takasuga T, Nagai K, Shiraishi H, Sakurai T, Matuda T, Hiraoka M (2002) Dechlorination and destruction of PCDD, PCDF and PCB on selected fly ash from municipal waste incineration. Chemosphere 46:1255–1262

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang EI, Yi ST, Leem YM (2005) Effect of oyster shell substituted for fine aggregates on concrete characteristics: part I. Fundamental properties. Cement Concrete Res 35:2175–2182

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yoon GL, Kim BT, Kim BO, Han SH (2003) Chemical–mechanical characteristics of crushed oyster shell. Waste Manage 23:825–834

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yoon H, Park S, Lee K, Park J (2004) Oyster shell as substitute for aggregate in mortar. Waste Manage Res 22:158–170

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

R. Fernández-González was funded by the Lucas Labrada research program, and so were R. Rial-Otero and C. González-Barreiro by the Isidro Parga Pondal research program.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nutrition and Bromatology Group, Analytical and Food Chemistry Department, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, University of Vigo, Ourense Campus, E32004, Ourense, Spain

    Ricardo Fernández-González, Elena Martínez-Carballo, Carmen González-Barreiro, Raquel Rial-Otero & Jesús Simal-Gándara

Authors
  1. Ricardo Fernández-González
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Elena Martínez-Carballo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Carmen González-Barreiro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Raquel Rial-Otero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jesús Simal-Gándara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jesús Simal-Gándara.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Ake Bergman

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM 1

DOC 284 kb

ESM 2

DOC 63.5 kb

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fernández-González, R., Martínez-Carballo, E., González-Barreiro, C. et al. Distribution of polychlorinated biphenyls in both products and by-products of a mussel shell incinerator facility. Environ Sci Pollut Res 18, 1139–1146 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0467-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0467-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation