Towards a continuous two-phase partitioning bioreactor for xenobiotic removal.
The removal of a xenobiotic (4-chlorophenol) from contaminated water was investigated in a simulated continuous two-phase partitioning bioreactor (C-TPPB), fitted with coiled tubing comprised of a specifically-selected extruded polymer, Hytrel 8206. Wastewater flowed inside the tubing, the pollutant diffused through the tubing wall, and was removed in the aqueous bioreactor phase at typical biological removal rates in the C-TTPB simulated by varying aqueous phase throughput to the reactor. Operating over a range of influent substrate concentrations (500-1500mgL(-1)) and hydraulic retention times in the tubing (4-8h), overall mass transfer coefficients were 1.7-3.5×10(-7)ms(-1), with the highest value corresponding to the highest tubing flow rate. Corresponding mass transfer rates are of the same order as biological removal rates, and thus do not limit the removal process. The C-TPPB showed good performance over all organic and hydraulic loading ranges, with removal efficiencies of 4CP in the tubing wastewater stream always ≥96%. Additionally, the presence of the Hytrel tubing was able to buffer increases in organic loading to the hybrid system, enhancing overall process stability. Biological testing of the C-TPPB confirmed the abiotic test results demonstrating even higher 4-chlorophenol removal efficiency (∼99%) in the tubing stream.
Water Research Institute, C.N.R., Via Salaria km 29.300, CP 10, 00015 Monterotondo Stazione, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: tomei@irsa.cnr.it.
M Concetta
MC
Tomei
Water Research Institute, C.N.R., Via Salaria km 29.300, CP 10, 00015 Monterotondo Stazione, Rome, Italy.
Domenica
D
Mosca Angelucci
Department of Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada.
Andrew J
AJ
Daugulis
D019149:Bioreactors; D002733:Chlorophenols / Q000032:analysis*; D004867:Equipment Design; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000032:analysis*
D002733:Chlorophenols; C059046:Hytrel; D011091:Polyesters; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D015262:Xenobiotics; C029107:4-chlorophenol
Continuous two-phase partitioning bioreactor; Mass transfer; Polymer tubing; Wastewater treatment; Xenobiotics