Microbial characterization and anionic surfactant degradation in an anaerobic fluidized bed reactor with laundry wastewater

Author(s)

Juliana Kawanishi Braga

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC/SBD)
• Defense date: 2014-02-28

Examining board members

Maria Bernadete Amancio Varesche Silva; Dib Gebara; Márcia Nitschke; Valéria Maia de Oliveira; Marcelo Zaiat

• Advisor: Maria Bernadete Amancio Varesche Silva

Abstract

In this study the removal and degradation of anionic surfactant linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) and xenobiotic organic compounds in a commercial laundry wastewater was evaluated in anaerobic fluidized bed reactor (AFBR) filled with sand as support material, in a bench scale (1, 2 L), as well as the microbial community of the biofime and phase separator biomass at the end of the operation. The reactor was inoculated with sludge from a UASB reactor used in the swine manure treatment and fed with synthetic substrate plus commercial laundry wastewater. Wastewater characterisation, monitoring analyzes of LAS, organic matter and other physico-chemical parameters were performed during the stages of system operation. This operation was divided into five stages: Stage I - biomass adaptation (575 ± 28mg L-1 of COD), Stage II (9.5 ± 3 mg L-1 of LAS and 637 ± 80 mg L-1 of COD ), Stage III (23.3 ± 8 mg L-1 of LAS and 686 ± 92 mg L-1 of COD), Stage IV (21.7 ± 10 mg L-1 of LAS and 691 ± 103 mg L-1 of COD), Stage V (27.9 ± 9.6 mg L-1 of LAS and 666 ± 161 mg L-1 of COD). Application of PCR/DGGE and pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA region was performed to verify the microbial diversity in the operational phase IV (with sucrose) and V (without sucrose). Through the commercial laundry wastewater characterization a wide variation in several parameters concentration was shown, mainly organic matter (704mg L-1 to 4.830mg L-1) and LAS (12.2mg L-1 to 11.949mg L-1). The average removal efficiency of organic matter and LAS was 88% and 60%, respectively, throughout the reactor operation. The populations of the Archaea and Bacteria Domains were 54% and 45% similar, respectively, for Stages IV and V biomass. By pyrosequencing analysis of sand and phase separator samples from the Stages IV and V, 92 genera of which 24 were related to the degradation of LAS (Bdellovibrio, Ferruginibacter, Gemmatimonas, Holophaga, Magnetospirillum, Zoogloea, etc.) were identified. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/11531-9 - Evaluation of treatment from a commercial laundry wastewater using as anaerobic fluidized bed
• Grantee: Juliana Kawanishi Braga
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate