Abstract |
Organotin-contaminated wastewater is generated during dry dock and ship cleaning activities. We conducted a study to determine the effectiveness of activated sludge in treating contaminated wastewater. Bench-scale activated sludge reactors and state-of-the-art analytical techniques were used to determine the fate of tributyltin and its degradation products. We found that tributyltin degraded to dibutyltin and monobutyltin in activated sludge at the bench scale. Tributyltin also degrades under anaerobic conditions, and its degradation products are not readily volatilized and tend to sorb onto sludge solids. Keywords: Organotin, Tributyltin chloride, Activated sludge, Anaerobic sludge, Degradation, Antifouling paint, Organometallic compounds, Waste treatment, Sewage treatment. (jg) |