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Sewage Sludge Components Extractable With Nonaqueous Solvents¹

ABSTRACT

Organic components in sewage sludges were extracted with nonaqueous solvents (hexane and methanol) and characterized by chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. On the average, nonaqueous solvent soluble compounds represented 10.6% of sludge dry weight (24.8% of ash-free dry weight) and contained 36% of the total organic C in sludge. Major compounds in nonaqueous solvent extracts included two different waxes, one phenolic fatty acid ester, and a glyceride fatty acid. Significant amounts of dibutyl phthalate, di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, and butyl benzyl phthalate were also present in sludges. The presence of fats, waxes, and oils was expected; however, the presence of phthalate esters in sludges has apparently not been previously reported. The types of phthalate esters in sludge suggest that they are derived from industrial inputs to the municipal sewage treatment system. Polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated biphenyls, or chlorinated hydrocarbons were not detected in any of the sludges examined.

Key Words: oil • grease • wax • phthalate esters • mass spectrometry • gas chromatography • hexane • methanol

¹ Contribution of the Indiana Agric. Exp. Stn., Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907. Journal Paper no. 8474. Work was supported in part from Grant no. R804547-02-1 awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

² Research Assistant and Professors of Agronomy, respectively.

Received for publication June 25, 1982.

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