Occurrence and fate of volatile siloxanes in a municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant of Beijing, China

The occurrence and fate of four cyclic and two linear volatile siloxanes were studied in a municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), Beijing City, China. Aqueous and sludge samples were analyzed by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In the studied WWTP, four cyclic analogs (D3-D6) had significantly higher concentrations and frequencies than the two linear analogs [Octamethyltrisiloxane (L3) and Decamethyltetrasiloxane (L4)], with inputs into the WWTP ranging from 78.2 to 387.7 kg/year. Removal efficiencies of volatile cyclic siloxanes in two parallel secondary treatment processes ranged from 59.3 to 92.7%. For volatile cyclic siloxanes, relative fractions of mass loss by adsorption to sludge ranged from 8.3 to 53.0%, and their adsorption capacities were significantly affected by the dissolved organic matter. Besides adsorption, they were eliminated mainly in anaerobic units (44.4-84.3%). Through in vitro biodegradation experiments, we concluded that in the anaerobic compartments, Hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane (D3) and Dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane (D6) were eliminated mostly by volatilization, while Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) and Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) may be eliminated by both volatilization and degradation. Furthermore, microbe catalysis hydrolysis was identified as one of the main degradation pathways for D4 and D5 in anaerobic compartments.

► volatile siloxanes are ubiquitous in aqueous and sludge samples of municipal WWTP. ► They are removed mainly via adsorption, volatilization, and degradation in WWTP. ► Volatile siloxanes are removed mainly in anaerobic unit of A2/O processes. ► Volatile siloxanes hydrolysis is an important degradation pathway in anaerobic unit.