Phenolic refinery wastewater biodegradation by an expanded granular sludge bed reactor.
Refinery spent caustics (SC) were diluted with sour waters (SW) in a ratio 1:7, neutralized with CO2 (SC/SW(CO2)) and 83% of H2S was striped during this procedure, remaining an aromatic portion that contained 2123, 2730 and 1379 mg L(-1) of phenol, p-cresol and o-cresol, respectively. The mixture was teated anaerobically in an EGSB reactor fed with 1.5 gCOD L(-1) d(-1), without mineral supplements causing loss of COD removal efficiency that dropped to 23%, methane production ceased and no phenol or cresols were biodegraded. The EGSB experiments were resumed by feeding the reactor with nutrients and phenol at 1.0 gCOD L(-1) d(-1). The mixture SC/SWco2 added to the phenol load, was step increased from 0.10 to 0.87 gCODL(-1) d(-1) maximum. When total organic load was increased to 1.6, COD removal efficiency was 90% and at the highest load attained, 1.87, efficiency dropped to 23% attributed to the toxic effect produced by cresols.
Almendariz
F J
FJ
Department of Biotechnology, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana. Av. San Rafael Atlixco No.186. Col. Vicentina, Iztapalapa, C.P. 09340, Mexico, DF. jarm@xanum.uam.mx
Meraz
M
M
Olmos
A D
AD
Monroy
O
O
D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019149:Bioreactors; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism; D010578:Petroleum; D010636:Phenols / Q000378:metabolism*; D012722:Sewage; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*
D007220:Industrial Waste; D010578:Petroleum; D010636:Phenols; D012722:Sewage; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D008697:Methane; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide