title: The effects of mediator and granular activated carbon addition on degradation of trace organic contaminants by an enzymatic membrane reactor.
abstract: The removal of four recalcitrant trace organic contaminants (TrOCs), namely carbamazepine, diclofenac, sulfamethoxazole and atrazine by laccase in an enzymatic membrane reactor (EMR) was studied. Laccases are not effective for degrading non-phenolic compounds; nevertheless, 22-55% removal of these four TrOCs was achieved by the laccase EMR. Addition of the redox-mediator syringaldehyde (SA) to the EMR resulted in a notable dose-dependent improvement (15-45%) of TrOC removal affected by inherent TrOC properties and loading rates. However, SA addition resulted in a concomitant increase in the toxicity of the treated effluent. A further 14-25% improvement in aqueous phase removal of the TrOCs was consistently observed following a one-off dosing of 3g/L granular activated carbon (GAC). Mass balance analysis reveals that this improvement was not due solely to adsorption but also enhanced biodegradation. GAC addition also reduced membrane fouling and the SA-induced toxicity of the effluent.
authors: Strategic Water Infrastructure Lab, School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors: Luong N
authors: LN
authors: Nguyen
authors: Strategic Water Infrastructure Lab, School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia. Electronic address: faisal@uow.edu.au.
authors: Faisal I
authors: FI
authors: Hai
authors: Strategic Water Infrastructure Lab, School of Chemistry, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors: William E
authors: WE
authors: Price
authors: Smart Water Research Centre, Griffith University, QLD 4222, Australia.
authors: Frederic D L
authors: FD
authors: Leusch
authors: School of Civil, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia.
authors: Felicity
authors: F
authors: Roddick
authors: Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.
authors: Hao H
authors: HH
authors: Ngo
authors: Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.
authors: Wenshan
authors: W
authors: Guo
authors: Department of Civil Engineering, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Saleh F
authors: SF
authors: Magram
authors: Strategic Water Infrastructure Lab, School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors: Long D
authors: LD
authors: Nghiem
mesh_terms: D061249:Batch Cell Culture Techniques; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental / Q000187:drug effects; D057219:Biofouling; D019149:Bioreactors; D002606:Charcoal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D042845:Laccase / Q000378:metabolism*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011312:Pressure; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002606:Charcoal; D042845:Laccase
keywords: Enzymatic membrane reactor (EMR); Granular activated carbon (GAC); Laccase; Redox-mediator; Trace organic contaminants (TrOCs)