Decolourisation and treatment of pulp and paper mill effluent by lignin‐degrading Bacillus sp.

Three lignin‐degrading bacterial strains, identified as Paenibacillus sp., Aneurinibacillus aneurinilyticus and Bacillus sp. have been examined for the treatment of pulp and paper mill effluent. The results of this study revealed that all three bacterial strains effectively reduced colour (39–61%), lignin (28–53%), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) (65–82%), chemical oxygen demand (COD) (52–78%) and total phenol (64–77%) within six days of incubation. However, the highest reduction in colour (61%), lignin (53%), BOD (82%) and COD (78%) was recorded by Bacillus sp. while, maximum reduction in total phenol (77%) was recorded with Paenibacillus sp. treatment. Significant reduction in colour and lignin content by these bacterial strains was observed after two days of incubation, indicating that bacterium initially utilized growth supportive substrates and subsequently chromophoric compounds thereby reducing lignin content and colour in the effluent. The total ion chromatograph (TIC) of compounds present in the ethyl acetate extract of control and bacterial treated samples revealed the formation of several lignin‐related aromatic compounds. The compounds identified in extracts of treated samples by Paenibacillus sp were t‐cinnamic acid and ferulic acid, while 3‐hydroxy‐4‐methoxyphenol, vanillic acid and vanillin acid by A. aneurinilyticus and gallic acid and ferulic acid by Bacillus sp. respectively indicating the degradation of lignin present in the effluent. The identified compounds obtained after different bacterial treatments were found to be strain‐specific. Among these identified compounds, ferulic acid, vanillic acid and vanillin could have immense value for their use in preservatives and in the food flavour industry. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Decolorisation of textile effluent using homogeneous photochemical oxidation processes

In this paper, the results of COD and colour removal from textile effluent using homogeneous photochemical oxidation processes in a batch mode are presented. The results show that the best result was obtained using a combined O₃/H₂O₂/UV process, with 97% removal for COD and 99% removal for colour. Optimum conditions for pH and hydrogen peroxide dosage for this process was determined as 3 and 25 mg/l, respectively. Both H₂O₂/UV and O₃/UV combinations were found to result in similar levels of COD and colour removal efficiencies (over 91% removal for COD and 96% for colour). In addition, the associated operating costs of the various advanced oxidation processes were determined in this study. Received: 21 February 2005; Accepted: 14 June 2005.     

Anaerobic digestion of alkaline black liquor using an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor

The anaerobic digestion of alkaline black liquor from a cereal straw pulping mill was studied in batch (serum bottles) and continuous systems (up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor—UASB). The batch digestion studies confirmed that lignin and related compounds (LRC) in the alkaline black liquor were the main inhibitory substances and could not be decomposed by anaerobic bacteria. At organic loading rates of 5–10 kg COD m^?3 day^?1, the UASB reactor achieved 50–60% COD removal efficiencies. Gas production was 2–3 dm³ per dm³ of alkaline black liquor. Two different sludge types were examined in the reactor: granular and cluster-like sludges. Sludge in a cluster, which involved many small granules and flocs, tended to form larger aggregates and possessed good settling ability.     

Advanced treatment of textile dyeing wastewater through the combination of moving bed biofilm reactors and ozonation

A four-stage lab-scale treatment system [anaerobic moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR)-aerobic MBBR-ozonation-aerobic MBBR in series] was investigated to treat textile dyeing wastewater. The MBBRs were operated in a continuous horizontal flow mode. To determine the optimum operating conditions, the effect of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and ozonation time on pollutant removal were analysed by continuous and batch experiments. The optimum operating conditions were found to be 14 h HRT for both anaerobic and no. 1 aerobic MBBRs, 14 min ozonation time and 10 h HRT for no. 2 aerobic MBBR. The average influent concentrations of chemical oxygen demand (COD), suspended solids (SS), ammonia and colour were 824 mg/L, 691 mg/L, 40 mg/L and 165°, respectively. Under these conditions, the average effluent concentrations of COD, SS, ammonia and colour were 47 mg/L, 15.2 mg/L, 5.9 mg/L and 6.1°, respectively, corresponding to total removal efficiencies of 94.3%, 97.8%, 85.3% and 96.3%, respectively. The final effluent could meet the reuse requirements of textile industry. The anaerobic MBBR process improved the biodegradability of the raw wastewater, while the two aerobic MBBRs played an important role in removing COD and ammonia. The ozonation process enhanced the biodegradability of no. 1 aerobic MBBR effluent, and finally, deep treatment was completed in no. 2 aerobic MBBR. The combined process showed a promising potential for treatment of high-strength dyeing wastewater.     

Semiconducting polyurethane/polypyrrole/polyaniline for microorganism immobilization and wastewater treatment in anaerobic/aerobic sequential packed bed reactors

The development of new materials for microorganism immobilization is very important in wastewater treatment. In this work polyurethane (PU) foams were modified polymerizing pyrrole and aniline onto their surface by chemical oxidization to obtain polyurethane/polypyrrole (PU/PPy), polyurethane/polyaniline (PU/PANI), and PU/(PPy‐co‐PANI) supports which were used to immobilize microorganisms for municipal wastewater treatment in batch mode and continuous flow using two sequential (anaerobic/aerobic) packed bed reactors (PBR) varying the total hydraulic retention time (HRT). The supports were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and tested in chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal during treatment of a municipal wastewater. It was observed from SEM analysis that globular nanostructures of PPy and PPy‐co‐PANI were formed onto the PU surface with average diameters between 100 and 300 nm, which are typical of aqueous polymerization of pyrrole monomer; however irregular nanostructures were observed when PANI was homopolymerized onto the PU foam. Batch wastewater treatment after 14 days showed COD removal efficiencies of 77%, 69%, 78%, and 80% for PU foam, PU/PPy, PU/PANI, and PU/(PPy‐co‐PANI), respectively; which was explained as a function of polymers morphology deposited onto the PU foam surface. Also it was observed from the sequential PBR that for 24 h and 36 h of HRT, 80 and 90% of COD removal can be achieved; respectively.© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42242.     

Effect of temperature on the ozonation of textile waste effluent

Ozonation in batch experiments were conducted at elevated temperatures to study the influence of temperature on the efficiency of ozonation. The effect of temperature on ozonation was determined by measuring the extent of colour removal and the reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total organic carbon (TOC) of a textile waste effluent. It was found that increasing the temperature causes a decrease in the levels of colour, COD and TOC. Complete mineralisation of the dye molecule, however, did not occur to an appreciable extent. The efficiency of colour removal was 71.3%, whilst the COD and TOC reduction efficiency was 20.3 and 19.3%, respectively, at the highest temperature studied (50 °C). The removal efficiency of COD, however, did not improve significantly when the temperature was increased from 40 to 50 °C.     

Comparison study of dyestuff wastewater treatment by the coupled photocatalytic oxidation and biofilm process

Degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) and COD by means of the coupled photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) and biofilm systems has been studied. The coupled PCO-biofilm systems were divided into two operation systems. The one (R1) consisted of a pre-PCO and a post-biofilm reactor system and the other (R2) was a pre-biofilm and a post-PCO reactor system. In a batch experiment, the order of initial decolorization rate was photocatalytic oxidation > adsorption > photolysis. The color removal rate of RhB was decreased with an increase of the initial COD concentration. In a continuous experimental study, almost all color was removed in the PCO reactor. During 180 days, the color and COD removal efficiencies in the R2 (pre-biofilm + post-PCO) system were higher than those in the R1 (pre-PCO + post-biofilm) system. In our experimental ranges, the PCO process was superior to Fenton oxidation in the color and COD removal.     

Statistical analysis and optimization of simultaneous biological nutrients removal process in an intermittently aerated SBR

Simultaneous removal of carbon and nutrients from a synthetic wastewater in aerobic/anoxic sequence batch reactor (SBR) was investigated. The experiments were conducted based on a central composite design (CCD) and analyzed using response surface methodology (RSM). Two significant independent variables, cycle time and aeration time, were studied to analyze the process. Five dependent parameters—total COD (TCOD) removal, total nitrogen removal, total phosphorus removal, total Kjeldahl nitrogen removal and effluent nitrate concentration—were monitored as the process responses. The region of exploration for the process was taken as the area enclosed by cycle times (2, 4.25 and 6.5 h) and aeration times (30, 40 and 50 min/h) boundaries. The maximum COD (87.18%) and TKN (78.94%) removal efficiencies were obtained at the cycle time and aeration time of 6.5 h and 50 min/h, respectively. While the maximum TN (71.15%) and phosphorus (68.91%) removal efficiencies were obtained at cycle time of 6.5 h and aeration time of 40min/h. As a result, high cycle time (6.5 h) and moderate aeration time (40min/h) were found to be the optimal region for maximum carbon and nitrogen removal efficiencies.     

Black liquor detoxification by laccase of Trametes versicolor pellets

Black liquors from a soda pulping mill were treated with the white‐rot fungus Trametes versicolor to detoxify and reduce colour, aromatic compounds and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The fungus was used in the form of pellets in aerated reactors (fluidized, stirred and air‐pulsed reactors). Reductions in colour and aromatic compounds of 70–80% and in COD of 60% were achieved. During the different experiments, laccase activity was detected but neither lignin peroxidase (LiP) nor manganese peroxidase activities were detected, although T versicolor is able to produce these enzymes. Experiments also showed a LiP activity inhibitory effect produced by lignin. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that there is a relationship between laccase production and toxicity reduction. This correlation responds to the equation Laccase production = 1.57 LN (toxicity reduction) ?16.40. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

一株木质素降解细菌的筛选及其降解途径

经高温碱性盐法预处理的玉米秸秆预处理液中木质素和碱性盐含量高,为了反复利用含盐预处理液,需脱除其中的可溶性木质素。本实验从腐木中筛选分离到一株木质素降解菌株CCZU-WJ6,通过形态学观察和16S rDNA序列分析,鉴定该菌株属于无色杆菌属（Achromobacter sp.）。测定了CCZU-WJ6木质素降解相关酶的活性,及其在玉米秸秆预处理液中的生长趋势、预处理液的COD去除率和木质素降解率,通过GC-MS和FTIR检测预处理液中组分及其化学键的变化。通过单因素实验确定了菌株CCZU-WJ6处理预处理液的最佳条件为pH 7.0、温度30℃、预处理液稀释倍数10倍、接菌量0.5g/mL。在处理6天后,预处理液COD脱除率为40.9%,木质素的降解率为32.1%,CCZU-WJ6分泌木质素过氧化物酶和锰过氧化物酶的酶活分别达到215.5U/L、200.1U/L。CCZU-WJ6会破坏木质素结构中的苯环结构、醚键以及C＝O键,降解产物中含有愈创木酚和对香豆酸,推断其降解途径为β-芳基醚代谢途径和阿魏酸代谢途径。CCZU-WJ6可用来处理含木质素的工业废水,在工业方面具有广阔的应用前景。     

Colour and COD removal from textile effluent by coagulation and advanced oxidation processes

The aim of this study was to compare the performance of coagulation, Fenton's oxidation (Fe²⁺/H₂O₂) and ozonation for the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and colour from biologically pretreated textile wastewater. FeSO₄ and FeCl₃ were used as coagulants at varying doses and varying colour removal efficiency was measured. For the Fenton process, COD and colour removal efficiencies were found to be 78% and 95% for the Fenton process, and to be 64% and 71% for the Fenton-like process (Fe³⁺/H₂O₂), respectively. Ozonation experiments were conducted at different initial pH values and fixed ozone doses. Ozonation resulted in 43% COD and 97% colour removal whereas these rates increased to 54% and 99% when 5 mg/l hydrogen peroxide was added to the wastewater before ozonation at the same dose. The operating costs of all proposed treatment systems were also evaluated in this study.     

碳源在连续批式反应器中对生物养分移动的影响

连续批式操作用来研究利用不同的碳源从合成废水中移动养分(COD、 NH4-N、 NO3-N、 PO4-P)的过程,本操作包括缺氧症、缺氧的、有氧的、缺氧和有氧的(An、Ax、Ox、Ax、Ox)时期,分别持续2 h、1 h、4.5 h、1.5 h、1.5 h.葡萄糖、醋酸盐、葡萄糖和醋酸盐混合物作为碳源在机械中产生的COD∶N∶P为100∶5∶1.5,污泥稳定保存10 d.当葡萄糖和醋酸盐混合物比例是50∶50时,COD、NH4-N、NO3-N和PO4-P最大迁移率分别是96%、87%、81%和90%.     

Anaerobic/aerobic sequential treatment of a cotton textile mill wastewater

The treatment of a wastewater taken from a cotton textile mill was investigated using an anaerobic/aerobic sequential system during an operational period of 87 days. The process units consisted of an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor and a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR). Wastewater characterization was performed before feeding the reactor system. Glucose‐COD, and azo dyes were added to the textile wastewater for comparative purposes in the final period of operation. The pH values in the effluent of the UASB reactor were suitable for optimal anaerobic treatment in all runs. The biodegradable part of the COD in wastewater was removed effectively, with the anaerobic stage improving the biodegradability of wastewater entering the aerobic stage. The UASB reactor permitted COD and color removals of 9–51% and 46–55%, respectively, at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 30 h. COD removal efficiencies were between 40 and 85% and color removal efficiencies were 39–81% in normal and artificially‐colored wastewaters at a total HRT of 5.75 days in the UASB/CSTR reactor system. Benzidine produced from the cleavage of azo bond in the anaerobic stage was effectively removed in the aerobic stage, and was identified by comparison of its HPLC spectrum with that of an authentic specimen. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Biological treatment of saline wastewaters from marine‐products processing factories by a fixed‐bed reactor

Wastewaters generated by a factory processing marine products are characterized by high concentrations of organic compounds and salt constituents (>30 g dm^?3). Biological treatment of these saline wastewaters in conventional systems usually results in low chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency, because of the plasmolysis of the organisms. In order to overcome this problem a specific flora was adapted to the wastewater from the fish‐processing industry by a gradual increase in salt concentrations. Biological treatment of this effluent was then studied in a continuous fixed biofilm reactor. Experiments were conducted at different organic loading rates (OLR), varying from 250 to 1000 mg COD dm^?3 day^?1. Under low OLR (250 mg COD dm^?3 day^?1), COD and total organic carbon (TOC) removal efficiencies were 92.5 and 95.4%, respectively. Thereafter, fluctuations in COD and TOC were observed during the experiment, provoked by the progressive increase of OLR and the nature of the wastewater introduced. High COD (87%) and TOC (99%) removal efficiencies were obtained at 1000 mg COD dm^?3 day^?1. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Dependency of removal efficiency on electrode arrangements in the treatment of oily wastewaters by electrocoagulation

Turbidity and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiencies were analyzed depending on electrode layouts by performing electrocoagulation experiments using horizontal and vertical electrochemical cells. Multiple aluminum plate electrodes were placed into different sections of the electrochemical cells. Removal efficiencies at the horizontal electrochemical cell were always higher than the one’s obtained from the vertical electrochemical cell. But the use of vertical electrochemical cell consumed less energy during the electrocoagulation tests. The highest COD removal efficiencies were 97% and 88% in the horizontal and vertical electrochemical cells, respectively. However, the energy consumption for COD removal in the horizontal electrochemical cell was 47% higher than the energy consumed in the vertical electrochemical cell.     

Real textile wastewater treatment using nano graphene-based materials: Optimum pH,dosage, and kinetics for colour and turbidity removal

Textile effluent is one of the most hazardous types of wastewater for both the environment and human health when discharged without proper treatment. This work stands out as one of the first to evaluate the parameters for the application of graphene oxide (GO) to treat real textile wastewater. A comparative analysis was conducted to investigate the removal efficiencies of turbidity and apparent colour from raw textile wastewater using GO. The effects of different parameters, such as GO dosage, pH, and contact time were discussed, considering a removal mechanism based on the salting out effect. Results regarding treatment using GO followed by centrifugation showed that in >1 hour nearly 90% turbidity was decreased, and an apparent colour removal efficiency over 76% was recorded, which is twice the value obtained with the conventional treatment applied in textile mills. Over 60% chemical oxygen demand was reduced. Tests using GO followed by sedimentation also revealed promising results, showing removal efficiencies of 66% and 88% for apparent colour and turbidity, respectively. These results suggest that GO could be promising for real wastewater treatment.     

Ozone treatment of textile effluents and dyes: effect of applied ozone dose,pH and dye concentration

The ozonation of wastewater supplied from a treatment plant (Samples A and B) and dye‐bath effluent (Sample C) from a dyeing and finishing mill and acid dye solutions in a semi‐batch reactor has been examined to explore the impact of ozone dose, pH, and initial dye concentration. Results revealed that the apparent rate constants were raised with increases in applied ozone dose and pH, and decreases in initial dye concentration. While the color removal efficiencies of both wastewater Samples A and C for 15 min ozonation at high ozone dosage were 95 and 97%, respectively, these were 81 and 87%, respectively at low ozone dosage. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal efficiencies at several ozone dose applications for a 15 min ozonation time were in the ranges of 15–46% and 10–20%, respectively for Sample A and 15–33% and 9–19% respectively for Sample C. Ozone consumption per unit color, COD and DOC removal at any time was found to be almost the same while the applied ozone dose was different. Ozonation could improve the BOD₅ (biological oxygen demand) COD ratio of Sample A by 1.6 times with 300 mg dm^?3 ozone consumption. Ozonation of acid dyes was a pseudo‐first order reaction with respect to dye. Increases in dye concentration increased specific ozone consumption. Specific ozone consumption for Acid Red 183 (AR‐183) dye solution with a concentration of 50 mg dm^?3 rose from 0.32 to 0.72 mg‐O₃ per mg dye decomposed as the dye concentration was increased to 500 mg dm^?3. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Benzene removal with vertical‐flow constructed treatment wetlands

BACKGROUND: Twelve vertical‐flow experimental wetlands have been constructed using different compositions, and were operated in batch‐flow mode to reduce pumping costs. Six wetlands were located indoors and six outdoors. Benzene was used as a representative example substance to assess the removal of low molecular weight petroleum compounds. RESULTS: Findings indicate that the constructed wetlands remove benzene (inflow of approximately 1.3 g L^?1) from hydrocarbon‐contaminated wastewater streams with better indoor (controlled environment) than outdoor treatment performances. Overall mean removal efficiencies for the experimental rig placed outside were as follows: benzene 85%, chemical oxygen demand (COD), 70%; ammonia‐nitrogen, 83%; nitrate‐nitrogen, 88%; ortho‐phosphate‐phosphorus, 58%. In comparison, removal efficiencies for the experimental rig placed indoors were higher: benzene 95%, COD, 80%; ammonia‐nitrogen, 90%; nitrate‐nitrogen, 94%; ortho‐phosphate‐phosphorus, 66%. Benzene removal was predominantly due to volatilization after 1 day of retention time. CONCLUSION: The use of aggregates (sand and gravel) and the presence of Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. resulted in no significant difference in terms of benzene, redox potential, dissolved oxygen, 5‐day at 20 °C N‐allylthiourea biochemical oxygen demand, COD and nutrients removal. Statistical differences were assessed by analysis of variance and Tukey HSD tests (P < 0.05). Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Simultaneous organic carbon and nitrogen removal in an SBR controlled at low dissolved oxygen concentration

Simultaneous organic carbon and nitrogen removal was studied in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) fed with synthetic municipal wastewater and controlled at a low dissolved oxygen (DO) level (0.8 mg dm^?3). Experimental results over a long time (120 days) showed that the reactor achieved high treatment capacities (organic and nitrogen loading rates reached as high as 2.4 kg COD m^?3 d^?1 and 0.24 kg NH₃‐N m³ d^?1) and efficiencies (COD, NH₃‐N and total nitrogen removal efficiencies were 95%, 99% and 75%). No filamentous bacteria were found in the sludge even though the reactor had been seeded with filamentous bulking sludge. Instead, granular sludge, which possessed high activity and good settleability, was formed. Furthermore, the sludge production rate under low DO was less than that under high DO. Significant benefits, such as low investment and less operating cost, will be obtained from the new process. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Studies on the structural features of sodium alginate entrapped Kluyveromyces marxianus NCYC179 cells used for alcohol production from whey permeate

Alginate-entrapped living Kluyveromyces marxianus NCYC179 cells were successfully used in alcohol production from whey permeate. Using 10% whey lactose as substrate, an alcohol production efficiency of 81.5–84.9% and 84.0–88.2% with cell viability maintenance between 82.8–84.3% and 81.0–84.3% of the immobilised cells during the monitoring periods, in batch (six repeat runs) and continuous (23 days of experimenting time) systems, respectively. The immobilised samples remained stable during the course of fermentation with no leakage of K. marxianus cells into the surrounding medium in the case of the batch system. However, slight leakage after 10 days of continuous run in the continuous process was recorded. The scanning electron microscopic studies of the beads containing entrapped yeast cells and sections or crushed samples of the beads carried out at the start and termination of fermentation in both the processes (batch and continuous) revealed that the immobilisation procedure does not influence any morphological change in the entrapped cells during the prolonged periods of fermentation. Moreover, the gel matrix structure was also found to be unaffected by the fermentation conditions employed during the course of present studies.