Impact of Detergents on the Nitrification Process of Ammonium Ions in Natural Waters

Abstract

The evaluation of individual effects of surfactants or other ingredients does not reflect the influence of a detergent on the aquatic environment, being important to estimate the effects of detergent as a whole. The present study, the impact of detergents on the process of nitrification of ammonium ions in natural waters evaluates the influence of 3 types of detergents on the process of nitrification of NH4 + in water: solid detergents (DS-1 and DS2) and a liquid detergent (DL). Laboratory modeling evaluated the nitrification process in the water of the Dniester River, in which 2.2-2.5 mg / dm3 NH4 + , 1-10-100 mg / dm3 DS-1 and DS-2 were added and 0.1 -0.5-1.0 ml / dm3 of DL. The nitrification process (stage I) NH4 + → NO2 - in water without detergent (control) took 8 days. At the addition of 1-10 mg/dm3 of DS-1 and DS-2 the process took 9-10 days, and at 100 mg/dm3 - 19-24 days, the concentration of nitrates in stage II (NO2 - →NO3 - ) being 19.8-17.2 mg/dm3 for DS -1 and 14.9- 1.68 mg/dm3 for DS-2, respectively. The concentration of 0.1 ml / dm3 DL generated the process at stage I to last 19 days, and in the presence of 0.5-1.0 ml/dm3 DL after 30 days there were still 56-88% of the initial ammonium, finally stage II (NO2 -NO3 - ) ending with only 4.67 - 1.01 mg/dm3 of nitrates. The study confirms the need to assess the impact of detergents (not only surfactants) and wastewater before being discharged into the emissary.