Removal of anionic surfactant of commercial laundry wastewater in an expanded granular sludge bed reactor

• Grant number: 12/10529-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2012
• End date: July 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Principal Investigator: Maria Bernadete Amâncio Varesche
• Grantee: Alana Gandra Lima de Moura
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS) is an anionic surfactant with a high consumption worldwide. An alternative to the anaerobic degradation of LAS is to use the EGSB reactor (expanded granular sludge bed) with recirculation of the effluent, which favors the mixing and dilution of this surfactant, and this way, turn more easy it's removal and degradation. Thus, this study aims to analyze the removal of LAS from commercial laundry wastewater in EGSB reactor with hydraulic retention time of 36 h, with low organic load applied and without supplement of mineral sources. Analysis of periodic monitoring will be done, such as COD, pH, alkalinity, volatile acids, sulfate, sulfide, total solids and LAS. At the conclusion of each step will be done microbial characterization through traditional techniques of microbiology and molecular biology and analysis of the diversity of the community to Domain Bacteria and Archaea, by PCR / DGGE. Moreover, will be done analysis of LAS adsorbed on the granules to evaluate the amount adsorbed, removed and degraded surfactant according to the operating time. (AU)