SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1979
STP34882S

Value of Chemical Fractionation for Identifying the Toxic Components of Complex Aqueous Effluents

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Chemical fractionation can be used to separate complex aqueous effluents into several less complex fractions, and this technique has been combined with mutagenesis testing to provide an effective means of screening the potential health hazards of products and of aqueous effluents. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the applicability of combining chemical fractionation with acute toxicity testing as a method of identifying and quantitatively assessing those components of a synthetic fuel process effluent that are toxic to aquatic biota.

A representative synthetic fuel effluent was fractionated into three organic fractions (acid, base, and neutral) and an inorganic fraction. The original effluent, the fractions, and a reconstituted effluent were tested for acute toxicity to Daphnia magna.

The results demonstrated that (1) the neutral fraction was the most toxic; (2) the acid and neutral fractions contributed the most toxicity, 51.3 and 41.9 percent, respectively, to the toxicity of the whole effluent; (3) the toxicities of the four fractions were additive; and (4) the fractionation process did not significantly alter the toxicity of the effluent. Possible applications of this approach, as well as its limitations, are discussed.

Author Information

Parkhurst, BR
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn.
Gehrs, CW
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn.
Rubin, IB
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn.
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Details
Developed by Committee: E35
Pages: 122–130
DOI: 10.1520/STP34882S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-4738-6
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0279-8