Hexavalent chromium removal by viable, granular anaerobic biomass.
Hexavalent chromium in industrial wastewater is a major concern due to its extreme toxicity. This study investigates the removal of Cr(VI) using viable anaerobic granular biomass as a biosorbent. The effect of Cr(VI) concentration on biogas content and COD removal using batch studies indicated that the phase II (methanogenic-rich) culture was more sensitive than the phase I (acidogenic-rich) culture. Toxicity indices for both cultures using COD removal were developed based on linear-log interpolation. The median inhibition Cr(VI) concentration (IC(50)), for phase II cultures was found to be 263mg/L, while that for phase I cultures was 309mg/L. A sorption study was conducted on viable and non-viable (dried) phase I-rich biomass: both followed the Langmuir model. In addition, the biosorption capacity for metabolically inhibited biomass was 25% less indicating some level of cellular uptake associated with Cr(VI) removal. This study demonstrated the potential for a two-phase anaerobic treatment system for a Cr(VI)-contaminated effluent.
Department Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3G 1M8.
Hafez
H
Massara
Catherine N
CN
Mulligan
John
J
Hadjinicolaou
D000327:Adsorption / Q000187:drug effects; D000693:Anaerobiosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental / Q000187:drug effects; D018533:Biomass; D002611:Cheese; D002857:Chromium / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000633:toxicity; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid
D002857:Chromium; C074702:chromium hexavalent ion; D010100:Oxygen