title: Anaerobic biological treatment of phenolic wastewater at 15-18 degrees C.
abstract: Low-temperature, or psychrophilic (<20 degrees C) anaerobic digestion has been proven feasible for the mineralisation of simple wastewaters. In this study, hybrid expanded granular sludge bed-anaerobic filter (EGSB-AF) bioreactors were used to evaluate the feasibility of psychrophilic digestion for the treatment of phenol-containing wastewater. Efficient chemical oxygen demand and phenol removal were observed at organic and phenol loading rates of 5 kg COD m(-3)d(-1) and 0.4-1.2 kg phenol m(-3)d(-1) (400-1200 mg phenol [l wastewater](-1)), respectively. There was no long-term accumulation of volatile fatty acids in the reactor systems. Methanogenic activity was developed under psychrophilic conditions but anaerobic methane-producing populations remained mesophilic throughout the trial of 415 days.
authors.affiliation: Microbial Ecology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology and Environmental Change Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Foy
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McHugh
authors.forename: Thérèse
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mahony
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: O'Flaherty
mesh_terms: D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000502:physiology*; D010636:Phenols / Q000378:metabolism*; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010636:Phenols; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical