Biodegradation of catechol (2-hydroxy phenol) bearing wastewater in an UASB reactor.
The present study deals with the biodegradation of catechol through co-metabolism with glucose in aqueous solution as primary substrate in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor. Batch studies indicated that the 1000mgl(-1) glucose concentration was sufficient to cometabolize and degrade catechol in an aqueous solution up to a concentration of 1000mgl(-1). The reactor operated at 35+/-2 degrees C, and at a constant hydraulic retention time of 8h with a gradual stepwise increase in catechol concentration from 100 to 1000mgl(-1) along with glucose as a cosubstrate. The results showed that the catechol was successfully mineralized in an UASB reactor in which microbial granulation was achieved with only glucose as the substrate. The reactor showed > or = 95% COD removal efficiency with 500-1000mgl(-1)catechol concentration in the feed and a glucose concentration of 1500mgl(-1) as a cosubstrate. Similar efficiency was obtained at a constant catechol concentration of 1000mgl(-1) with 500-1000mgl(-1) glucose concentration. Once the reactor got acclimatized with catechol, higher concentrations of catechol can be mineralized with a minimum amount of glucose as the cosubstrate without affecting the performance of the UASB reactor.
Subramanyam
R
R
Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee 247 667, India.
Mishra
I M
IM
D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D002396:Catechols / Q000737:chemistry*; D005947:Glucose / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods
D002396:Catechols; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D005947:Glucose; C034221:catechol