Date of Award
3-21-2013
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Environmental Engineering and Science
Department
Department of Systems Engineering and Management
First Advisor
Leeann Racz, PhD.
Abstract
Organophosphate compounds are used as pesticides and in chemical warfare agents such as nerve agents. VX (O-ethyl S-[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl] methylphosphonothioate) is one of the most toxic and environmentally persistent of these nerve agents. This research examined the fate of malathion, a pesticide and surrogate of VX (O-ethyl S-[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl] methylphosphonothioate), in bench-scale activated sludge (AS) sequencing batch reactors. Sorption kinetics and sorption equilibrium isotherm experiments indicate that sorption to AS biomass was not a statistically important removal mechanism. However, approximately 90% of the initial 4.25 mg L-1 malathion concentration degraded primarily via heterotrophic activity.
AFIT Designator
AFIT-ENV-13-M-33
DTIC Accession Number
ADA584318
Recommended Citation
Walters, Edward B., "Fate of Malathion in an Activated Sludge Municipal Wastewater Treatment System" (2013). Theses and Dissertations. 1018.
https://scholar.afit.edu/etd/1018