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Assessment of the consequences of a possible ban on phosphates in household detergents

Contents

Introduction

Sammenfatning og konklusioner

Summary and conclusions

1 Identification of substances for the substitution of phosphate

2 Environmental assessment of substances for substitution of phosphate

• 2.1 Screening for potential environmental hazard
  • 2.1.1 Degradation factor
  • 2.1.2 Release from wastewater treatment plant
  • 2.1.3 Risk index for the aquatic environment
• 2.2 Substances with high environmental hazard potential
• 2.3 Derivation of PNEC
• 2.4 Derivation of PEC
  • 2.4.1 Use of EUSES
  • 2.4.2 Emission/inventory and ECO Lab model
• 2.5 Aquatic risk assessment
• 2.6 Conclusions

3 Impact assessment of substitution of phosphates on wastewater treatment plants

• 3.1 Compositions, assumptions and approximations
  • 3.1.1 Composition of phosphate-containing and phosphate-free detergent builder systems
  • 3.1.2 Phosphorus loads to wastewater treatment plants
• 3.2 Expected change in loads to wastewater treatment plants of substances originating from laundry and automatic dishwashing detergents
  • 3.2.1 Change in phosphorus load to wastewater treatment plants
  • 3.2.2 Change in phosphate-free detergent load to wastewater treatment plants
• 3.3 Effects on the wastewater treatment plant operation as a result of reduced phosphorus load
  • 3.3.1 Phosphorus removal in biological and chemical wastewater treatment processes
  • 3.3.2 Phosphorus shortage for the biological processes
  • 3.3.3 Sludge composition and production
  • 3.3.4 Chemical savings
  • 3.3.5 Increased volatile fatty acids (VFA) for denitrification
• 3.4 Expected effects on the wastewater treatment plant operation as a result of using phosphate-free detergents in private households
  • 3.4.1 Increased content of zeolite in the sludge composition
  • 3.4.2 Effects on biological processes
  • 3.4.3 Reduced hydraulic capacity of secondary clarification tanks
  • 3.4.4 Sludge settling characteristics
  • 3.4.5 Reduced filtration of sludge
• 3.5 Conclusions

References

Appendix A: Approximations

Appendix B: Ecotoxicological data

Appendix C: ECO Lab model

Appendix D: EUSES

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Version 1.0 December 2009, © Danish Environmental Protection Agency