Environmental Management Program for Biodegradable Nonylphenol Ethoxylate Surfactants

1

• Environmental Management Program for
  Biodegradable Nonylphenol Ethoxylate Surfactants
• Carter Naylor, Ellen Mihaich, Michael Bush
• Aquatic Toxicology Workshop
• Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
• October 2001

2
Presentation Overview

• APERC Commitment and Objectives
• NPE Environmental Management Program - Goals and
  Operating Premise
• Summary of NPE Environmental Fate
• NPE Environmental Management Program - Current
  Activities

3
CEPA Toxic Determination

• CEPA Toxic 64(a) - NP and NPE are entering
  the environment in a quantity or concentration
  that have or may have effect on the environment
  or its biological diversity.
• Focus not on human health according to the CEPA
  determination.

4
EMP Beginnings

• Environment Canada (EC) identified hot spots of
  NP gt estimated no effect levels (ENEV)
• EC called for reduction of risk posed by those NP
  concentrations
• APERC EMP developed to respond directly to that
  call
• APE industry is well placed to act directly with
  EC and downstream users to manage and reduce
  risks, given its large technical resources

5
EMP Operating Premise

• Safe Environmental Concentrations of NP/NPE Are
  Defined and Are Achievable
• When Environmental Levels gt ENEVs then Risk
  Management is Needed
• When Environmental Levels lt ENEVs Further Risk
  Management Measures are Not Needed, Beyond What
  is Already in Place.
• Substitution Will Not Solve Treatment or Practice
  Problems

6
EMP Program Objectives

• Develop Risk Management Practices Consistent with
  CEPA Designation of NP/NPE
• Demonstrate Safe Handling and Disposal of NPE
• Provide Technical Assistance to Process
  Industries Using NPE Surfactants

7
Summary of Treatability

• NPEs are readily treated in conventional
  biological wastewater treatment plants
• All NPE biodegradation intermediates are also
  removed
• NP is not a significant degradation intermediate
  in effluent (lt 1 of influent NPE)

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Summary of Biodegradation

• NPEs degrade rapidly in the environment beyond
  the treatment plant
• Same for all degradation intermediates
• No intermediates are persistent
• Aromatic ring is opened and mineralized

9
Summary of Environmental Levels

• NPE and degradation intermediates are at safe
  levels in the aquatic environment except in
  pollution hot spots
• NPE and degradation intermediates continue
  degrading after treatment discharge
• Hot spots can be remediated by upgrading
  wastewater treatment

10
NPE Environmental Management

• Program Steps
• To Ensure Safe Levels in the Environment
• Promote Responsible Environmental Management
• Provide Guidance on Pollution Prevention and
  Control
• Complement Existing and Planned Regulations

11
NPE Environmental Management

• Program Elements
• Best Practices\Guidelines for Industries
• ASTM Analytical Method Standardization
• Toxicity Equivalencies for NPE and Derivatives
• Outreach and Communication
• Monitoring Program
• Technical Assistance and Case Studies

12
NPE Environmental Management Program

• Begin with Best Practices\Guidelines
• Guideline Document for Manufacturers and
  Formulators Drafted
• Developed by NP/NPE Manufacturers
• Monitoring of Manufacturers Treatment Plants

13
Treatment Plants
14
NPE Environmental Management Program

• Proposed ASTM Methods
• Standard Test Method for Determination of NP and
  Low NPEs in Environmental Waters (ASTM Committee
  D-19)
• Standard Test Method for Determination of APEs in
  Environmental Waters
• Carboxylate Metabolites of NPEs in Waters by
  Solid Phase Extraction, Derivatization and Gas
  Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

15
NPE Environmental Management Program
Environment
A Win-Win-Win Opportunity
Environment Canada
NPE Users