Occurrence and removal of selected organic micropollutants at mechanical, chemical and advanced wastewater treatment plants in Norway.

In Norway the combined hydraulic capacity of all domestic wastewater treatment plants is relatively equally distributed between three major treatment plant types; mechanical, chemical, and combined chemical and biological. The Western coast from Lindesnes in the south to the Russian boarder in the North is dominated by mechanical treatment plants, constituting approximately 68% of the treatment capacity in that area. In the present study we report concentrations and removal efficiencies of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nonylphenols, phthalates, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) found in five Norwegian wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) applying different levels of treatment.

An automated spectrophotometric system for monitoring buffer capacity in anaerobic digestion processes.

Anaerobic digestion is a suitable method for the treatment of wastewater and organic wastes, yielding biogas as a useful by-product. A common way of preventing instability problems and avoiding acidification in anaerobic digesters is to keep the organic load to the digester far below its maximum capacity. An improved way of operating digesters would be to use monitoring and control systems for increased organic load under controlled conditions such that the digester performance is improved.