title: The sequencing batch reactor as an excellent configuration to treat wastewater from the petrochemical industry.
abstract: In the present study, the influence of a changing feeding pattern from continuous to pulse feeding on the characteristics of activated sludge was investigated with a wastewater from the petrochemical industry from the harbour of Antwerp. Continuous seed sludge, adapted to the industrial wastewater, was used to start up three laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactors. After an adaptation period from the shift to pulse feeding, the effect of an increasing organic loading rate (OLR) and volume exchange ratio (VER) were investigated one after another. Remarkable changes of the specific oxygen uptake rate (sOUR), microscopic structure, sludge volume index (SVI), SVI30/SVI5ratio, and settling rate were observed during adaptation. sOUR increased two to five times and treatment time decreased 43.9% in 15 days. Stabilization of the SVI occurred after a period of 20 days and improved significantly from 300 mL·g-1to 80 mL·g-1. Triplication of the OLR and VER had no negative influence on sludge settling and effluent quality. Adaptation time of the microorganisms to a new feeding pattern, OLR and VER was relatively short and sludge characteristics related to aerobic granular sludge were obtained. This study indicates significant potential of the batch activated sludge system for the treatment of this industrial petrochemical wastewater.
authors.affiliation: Research group BioGEM, Bio-Chemical Green Engineering & Materials, Faculty of Applied Engineering, University of Antwerp, Salesianenlaan 90, Antwerp 2660, Belgium E-mail: jan.dries2@uantwerpen.be; Research group SPHERE, Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp 2020, Belgium.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caluwé
authors.affiliation: Research group BioGEM, Bio-Chemical Green Engineering & Materials, Faculty of Applied Engineering, University of Antwerp, Salesianenlaan 90, Antwerp 2660, Belgium E-mail: jan.dries2@uantwerpen.be.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Daens
authors.affiliation: Research group SPHERE, Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp 2020, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ronny
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blust
authors.affiliation: Research group BioGEM, Bio-Chemical Green Engineering & Materials, Faculty of Applied Engineering, University of Antwerp, Salesianenlaan 90, Antwerp 2660, Belgium E-mail: jan.dries2@uantwerpen.be.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Geuens
authors.affiliation: Research group BioGEM, Bio-Chemical Green Engineering & Materials, Faculty of Applied Engineering, University of Antwerp, Salesianenlaan 90, Antwerp 2660, Belgium E-mail: jan.dries2@uantwerpen.be.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dries
mesh_terms: D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D000066388:Oil and Gas Industry; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater