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Synthetic Musk Fragrances in a Conventional Drinking Water Treatment Plant with Lime Softening
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Synthetic Musk Fragrances in a Conventional Drinking Water Treatment Plant with Lime Softening

William D Wombacher and Keri C Hornbuckle
Journal of Environmental Engineering, Vol.135(11), pp.1192-1198
11/2009
DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0000085
PMCID: PMC2790179
PMID: 20126513
url
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/2790179View
Open Access

Abstract

Synthetic musk fragrances are common personal care product additives and wastewater contaminants that are routinely detected in the environment. This study examines the presence of eight synthetic musk fragrances [7-acetyl-1,1,3,4,4,6-hexamethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene (AHTN), 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8-hexamethylcyclopenta- γ -2-benzopyran (HHCB), 5-acetyl-1,1,2,6-tetramethyl-3-iso-propylindane (ATII), 4-acetyl-1,1-dimethyl-6-tert-butylindane (ADBI), 6-acetyl-1,1,2,3,3,5-hexamethylindane (AHMI), 6,7-dihydro-1,1,2,3,3,-pentamethyl-4-(5H)-indanone (DPMI), 1-tert-butyl-3,5-dimethyl-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (musk xylene), and 4-tert-butyl-3,5-dinitro-2,6-dimethylacetophenone (musk ketone)] in source water and the removal of these compounds as they flow through a Midwestern conventional drinking water plant with lime softening. The compounds were measured in water, waste sludge, and air throughout the plant. HHCB and AHTN were detected in 100% of the samples and at the highest concentrations. A mass balance on HHCB and AHTN was performed under warm and cold weather conditions. The total removal efficiency for HHCB and AHTN, which averaged between 67–89%, is dominated by adsorption to water softener sludge and its consequent removal by sludge wasting and media filtration. Volatilization, chlorine disinfection, and the disposal of backwash water play a minor role in the removal of both compounds. As a result of inefficient overall removal, HHCB and AHTN are a constant presence at low levels in finished drinking water.
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