OCCURRENCE OF ORGANOTINS IN MUNICIPAL WASTE-WATER AND SEWAGE-SLUDGE AND BEHAVIOR IN A TREATMENT-PLANT

The behavior of selected organotin species in a wastewater treatment plant of Zurich, Switzerland, was studied. In untreated wastewater, monobutyltin (MBT), dibutyltin (DBT), and tributyltin (TBT) were detected in the range of 136-564, 127-1026, and 64-217 ng/L, respectively, of which 81-92% were associated with suspended solids. During treatment, the fraction of organotins in the particulate phase decreased with decreasing suspended solids concentration. All organotin species monitored were found to be efficiently removed from wastewater, mainly by sedimentation in the primary clarifier. In the secondary effluent, levels of different organotins were in the range of 7-47 ng/L. These compounds were transferred into sewage sludge, indicating that the most important process for the elimination of organotins was adsorption into sludge. Residues of MBT, DBT, and TBT in digested sludges were in the range of 0.10-0.97, 0.41-1.24, and 0.28-1.51 mg/kg (dry weight), respectively.