A ferrous oxalate mediated photo-Fenton system: toward an increased biodegradability of indigo dyed wastewaters.

This study assessed the applicability of a ferrous oxalate mediated photo-Fenton pretreatment for indigo-dyed wastewaters as to produce a biodegradable enough effluent, likely of being derived to conventional biological processes. The photochemical treatment was performed with ferrous oxalate and hydrogen peroxide in a Compound Parabolic Concentrator (CPC) under batch operation conditions. The reaction was studied at natural pH conditions (5-6) with indigo concentrations in the range of 6.67-33.33 mg L(-1), using a fixed oxalate-to-iron mass ratio (C(2)O(4)(2-)/Fe(2+)=35) and assessing the system's biodegradability at low (257 mg L(-1)) and high (1280 mg L(-1)) H(2)O(2) concentrations. In order to seek the optimal conditions for the treatment of indigo dyed wastewaters, an experimental design consisting in a statistical surface response approach was carried out. This analysis revealed that the best removal efficiencies for Total Organic Carbon (TOC) were obtained for low peroxide doses. In general it was observed that after 20 kJ L(-1), almost every treated effluent increased its biodegradability from a BOD(5)/COD value of 0.4. This increase in the biodegradability was confirmed by the presence of short chain carboxylic acids as intermediate products and by the mineralization of organic nitrogen into nitrate. Finally, an overall decrease in the LC(50) for Artemia salina indicated a successful detoxification of the effluent.

Removal of high phenol concentrations with adapted activated sludge in suspended form and entrapped in calcium alginate /cross-linked poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) hydrogels.

The present work evaluates the aerobic removal of 0.25-2 g/L of phenol by adapted activated sludge in batch and continuous reactors, in suspended form and trapped in polymeric hydrogel beads of calcium alginate(1%) and cross-linked poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone), x-PVP (4%). The mechanical and chemical resistance of the entrapping hydrogel was also evaluated in three different media: (I) rich in phosphate and ammonium ions; (II) using alternate P and N sources, and (III) without nutrients. The adapted consortium removed phenol concentrations up to 2 g/L more efficiently in the immobilized systems. A decrease in phenol removal rate was observed as the food/microorganisms (F/M) ratio increased. A zero-order kinetics was observed with phenol concentrations > 1 g/L and a first-order kinetics at concentrations < 1 g/L. The best response (100% removal) was in the continuous reactors using type II medium, with a hydraulic residence time (HRT) of 12.5 h, an influent pH = 5, and an F/M ratio below 0.25. The immobilizing matrix deteriorated after 170 h of use in continuous reactors, especially with media I and II, probably due to the attrition forces, to chemical weakness of the material, and to the pressure of the bacterial growth inside the bead.