title: Potential method to improve the treatment efficiency of persistent contaminants in industrial wastewater.
abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate a potential method for improving the treatment efficiency of persistent contaminants in industrial wastewater. Adsorption with powdered activated carbon (PAC) was applied as pre-treatment and operational conditions as pH, temperature, carbon concentration and time were investigated in laboratory scale for different streams generated in a fine chemical industry. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiencies of 63 and 50% were attained for two important industrial streams, Product C after acid treatment and precipitation and Influent, at pH 7, room temperature and with 5 and 15 g l(-1) of PAC, respectively. Biodegradation assays showed that PAC adsorption enhanced COD removal efficiency. PAC pre-treatment increased the COD removal of Product C after production stream from 15 to 80% and improved the biodegradability of the Influent stream by 50%.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Engenharia Bioquímica, Escola de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Centro de Tecnologia, Bl.E, Sl.203, 21949-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Michele R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Maria A Z
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: Magali C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cammarota
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007220:Industrial Waste; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000633:toxicity*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D013267:Stilbenes; D002244:Carbon