Degradation of anionic surfactant in EGSB reactor under methanogenic and iron-reducing conditions with commercial laundry wastewater

Author(s)

Tiago Palladino Delforno

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC/SBD)
• Defense date: 2014-09-05

Examining board members

Maria Bernadete Amancio Varesche Silva; Cláudio Antônio de Andrade Lima; Silvana de Queiroz Silva; Katia Sivieri; Marcelo Zaiat

• Advisor: Maria Bernadete Amancio Varesche Silva

Abstract

This study evaluated four hypotheses about the removal of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) in EGSB reactor (expanded granular sludge bed) fed sometimes with commercial laundry wastewater, sometimes with synthetic medium more Standard LAS, with and without Fe(III) influent supplementation. Therefore, in all hypotheses were used an EGSB reactor (1.4 L) with a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 36 h, mesophilic condition (30°C) and load specific LAS (CLE) ranging from 1,0 to 2,7 mgLAS.gSTV-1.d-1. DGGE and massive sequencing of 16S rRNA gene (454-pyrosequencing and Ion Torrent platform) were used for microbial characterization. Regarding the Hypothesis A, it was evaluated the effect of biomass pre-adaptation for removal of LAS in wastewater. Then, the EGSBBA (adapted biomass) had a previous step with standard LAS and synthetic medium (Phase I), followed by Stage II with wastewater; and EGSB-BNA (not adapted biomass) had single step and feeding directly with wastewater. Regarding the Hypothesis B, it was evaluated the effect of synthetic medium supplementation in the removal of LAS in wastewater. Then, the EGSB-Ag.Lav was fed only with wastewater and sodium bicarbonate with two CLE (Stage II - 1,0 e Stage III - 2,7 mg LAS.gSTV-1.d-1). Regarding the Hypothesis C and D, it was evaluated the effect of Fe(III) supplementation in the removal of standard LAS and LAS in wastewater, respectively. The Hypothesis A was refuted since the LAS removal in EGSB-BA-Stage II (76%) and EGSB-BNA-Step I (78%) were similar (both with wastewater). The LAS removal was highest when wastewater was added (EGSB-BA-Stage-II 76%) than with standard LAS (EGSB-BAStage- I 63%). The Hypothesis B was accepted, since the feed of the EGSB only with wastewater from laundry (CLE 1,0 mg LAS.gSTV-1.d-1) more sodium bicarbonate resulted in removal of 93% of surfactant, in other words, 15-17% higher than in the reactors supplemented with synthetic medium (EGSB-BA Stage II e EGSB-BNA Stage I). In the Stage III, there was a decrease by 30% of LAS removal. The Hypothesis C was accepted, since there was an increase of 20% in the removal of LAS as compared to unsupplemented reactor with Fe (III) (EGSB-Fe - 84,3% e EGSB-BA Stage I - 63,5%). The Hypothesis D was refuted since although high LAS removal was obtained (91,2%), this was not accompanied by ferric reduction. By means of DGGE (Bacteria domain) was noted a microbial stratification along the reactor in the Stage III (Hypothesis B), probably in function of granule size along the reactor. By means of massive sequencing were identified bacteria similar to Geobacter in the sample from the reactor EGSB-Fe Hypothesis C (relative abundance 17%), therefore, the conditions favored this genre. This fact was not observed in the reactor EGSB-Fe-Ag.Lav. hypothesis D. A comparison of phylogenetic analysis of bacteria for different reactors allowed to identify common genera related to LAS degradation, namely: Desulfobulbus, Geobacter, Syntrophorhabdus, Sporomusa, Comamonas, Holophaga, Mycobacterium, Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas and Synergistes. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/06783-1 - Degradation of anionic surfactant in EGSB reactor under methanogenic conditions and iron reduction with wastewater commercial laundry
• Grantee: Tiago Palladino Delforno
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate