title: Investigating the performance of a novel cyclic rotating-bed biological reactor compared with a sequencing continuous-inflow reactor for biodegradation of catechol in wastewater.
abstract: The main objective of this study was to investigate the performance of a cyclic rotating-bed biological reactor (CRBR) in comparison to a sequencing continuous-inflow reactor (SCR) for the biodegradation and mineralization of catechol. Results showed that catechol degradation and mineralization in the SCR at the organic loading of 7.82kgCOD/m(3)d and the hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 9h were 28.2% and 10.3%, respectively. Under similar operating conditions to SCR, steady-state performance of CRBR with polyurethane foam (PUF) media for degradation and mineralization of catechol achieved was 98.7% and 97.9%, respectively. In comparison, the CRBR with 2H media attained average steady-state catechol degradation and mineralization of 89.1% and 83.6%, respectively, under similar conditions. Accordingly, the CRBR with PUF media presents a promising process for efficiently treating wastewater containing high concentrations of toxic, inhibitory and resistant compounds at a relatively short HRT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Ahmad
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Aghapour
authors.forename: Gholamreza
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moussavi
authors.forename: Kamyar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yaghmaeian
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental / Q000187:drug effects; D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; D019149:Bioreactors; D002396:Catechols / Q000378:metabolism*; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000494:pharmacology; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D002396:Catechols; D011140:Polyurethanes; D062065:Wastewater; C028279:polyurethane foam; C034221:catechol