Performance and kinetic evaluation of anaerobic moving bed biofilm reactor for treating milk permeate from dairy industry.

High strength milk permeate derived from ultra-filtration based cheese making process was treated in an anaerobic moving bed biofilm reactor (AMBBR) under mesophilic (35 degrees C) condition. Total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD) removal efficiencies of 86.3-73.2% were achieved at organic loading rates (OLR) of 2.0-20.0 g TCOD L(-1) d(-1). A mass balance model gave values of methane yield coefficient (Y(G/S)) and cell maintenance coefficient (k(m)) of 0.341 L CH(4) g(-1) TCOD(removed) and 0.1808 g TCOD(removed) g(-1) VSS d(-1), respectively. The maximum substrate utilization rate U(max) was determined as 89.3 g TCOD L(-1) d(-1) by a modified Stover-Kincannon model. Volumetric methane production rates (VMPR) were shown to correlate with the biodegradable TCOD concentration through a Michaelis-Menten type equation. Moreover, based on VMPR and OLR removed from the reactor, the sludge production yield was determined as 0.0794 g VSS g(-1) TCOD(removed).

Low-biodegradable composite chemical wastewater treatment by biofilm configured sequencing batch reactor (SBBR).

Biofilm configured system with sequencing/periodic discontinuous batch mode operation was evaluated for the treatment of low-biodegradable composite chemical wastewater (low BOD/COD ratio approximately 0.3, high sulfate content: 1.75 g/l) in aerobic metabolic function. Reactor was operated under anoxic-aerobic-anoxic microenvironment conditions with a total cycle period of 24 h [fill: 15 min; reaction: 23 h (aeration along with recirculation); settle: 30 min; decant: 15 min] and the performance of the system was studied at organic loading rates (OLR) of 0.92, 1.50, 3.07 and 4.76 kg COD/cum-day. Substrate utilization showed a steady increase with increase in OLR and system performance sustained at higher loading rates. Maximum non-cumulative substrate utilization was observed after 4h of the cycle operation. Sulfate removal efficiency of 20% was observed due to the induced anoxic conditions prevailing during the sequence phase operation of the reactor and the existing internal anoxic zones in the biofilm matrix. Biofilm configured sequencing batch reactor (SBR) showed comparatively higher efficiency to the corresponding suspended growth and granular activated carbon (GAC) configured systems studied with same wastewater. Periodic discontinuous batch mode operation of the biofilm reactors results in a more even distribution of the biomass throughout the reactor and was able to treat large shock loads than the continuous flow process. Biofilm configured system coupled with periodic discontinuous batch mode operation imposes regular variations in the substrate concentration on biofilm organisms. As a result, organisms throughout the film achieve maximum growth rates resulting in improved reaction potential leading to stable and robust system which is well suited for treating highly variable wastes.

Treatment of composite chemical wastewater by aerobic GAC-biofilm sequencing batch reactor (SBGR).

The performance of granular activated carbon (GAC)-biofilm configured sequencing batch reactor (SBGR) in aerobic environment was investigated for the treatment of composite chemical wastewater [low BOD/COD ratio ( approximately 0.3), high sulfate content (1.75 g/l) and high TDS concentration (11 g/l)]. Composite wastewater was a combined mixture of effluents from about 100 chemical based industries. Reactor was operated under anoxic-aerobic-anoxic microenvironment conditions with a total cycle period of 24 h (fill: 15 min; reaction (aeration with recirculation): 23 h; settle: 30 min; decant: 15 min) and the performance of the system was studied at organic loading rates (OLR) of 1.7 kg COD/cum-day, 3.5 kg COD/cum-day and 5.5 kg COD/cum-day. The reactor showed efficient performance with respect to substrate degradation rate and sustained its performance at higher operating OLR (5.5 kg COD/cum-day) and at low BOD/COD ratio. Substrate utilization was found to increase with increase in the operating OLR. Maximum non-cumulative substrate utilization of 1.837 kg COD/cum-h, 2.99 kg COD/cum-h and 3.821 kg COD/cum-h was observed after 15 h of the cycle operation for operating OLRs of 1.7 kg COD/cum-day, 3.5 kg COD/cum-day and 5.5 kg COD/cum-day, respectively. Sulfate removal efficiency of 11+/-2% was recorded in the SBGR due to the induced anoxic conditions prevailing during the sequence phase operation of the reactor and the existing internal anoxic zones in the biofilm. Effective performance of the reactor may be attributed to sorption capacity of GAC as carrier material facilitating low toxicant concentration in the mixed liquor. The existing high flow rates around the GAC particle results in good mass transfer of the substrate from the bulk liquid. The long retention of biofilm on GAC increases the potential for the treatment of recalcitrant industrial wastewater. GAC configured biofilm configuration coupled with sequencing batch mode operation appears to be promising for the effective treatment of complex industrial wastewater containing poorly degradable compounds.

Acid azo dye degradation by free and immobilized horseradish peroxidase (HRP) catalyzed process.

Acid azo (Acid Black 10 BX) dye removal by plant based peroxidase catalyzed reaction was investigated. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was extracted from horseradish roots and its performance was evaluated in both free and immobilized form. HRP showed its ability to degrade the dye in aqueous phase. Studies are further carried out to understand the process parameters such as aqueous phase pH, H2O2 dose, dye and enzyme concentrations during enzyme-mediated dye degradation process. Experimental data revealed that dye (substrate) concentration, aqueous phase pH, enzyme and H2O2 dose play a significant role on the overall enzyme-mediated reaction. Acrylamide gel immobilized HRP showed effective performance compared to free HRP and alginate entrapped HRP. Alginate entrapped HRP showed inferior performance over the free enzyme due to the consequence of non-availability of the enzyme to the dye molecule due to polymeric immobilization. Standard plating studies performed with Pseudomonas putida showed enhanced degradation of HRP catalyzed dye compared to control.

Degradation of chlorpyrifos contaminated soil by bioslurry reactor operated in sequencing batch mode: bioprocess monitoring.

Bioslurry reactor (SS-SBR) was studied for the degradation of chlorpyrifos contaminated soil using native mixed microflora, by adopting sequencing batch mode (anoxic-aerobic-anoxic) operation. Reactor operation was monitored for a total cycle period of 72 h consisting of 3 h of FILL, 64 h REACT, 2 h of SETTLE, and 3 h of DECANT with chlorpyrifos concentrations of 3000 micrpg/g, 6000 microg/g and 12000 microg/g. At 3000 microg/g of chlorpyrifos concentration, 91% was degraded after 72 h of the cycle period, whereas in the case of 6000 microg/g of chlorpyrifos, 82.5% was degraded. However, for 12000 microg/g of chlorpyrifos, only 14.5% degradation was observed. The degradation rate was rapid at lower substrate concentration and 12000 microg/g of substrate concentration was found to be inhibitory. Chlorpyrifos removal rate was slow during the initial phase of the sequence operation. Half-life of chlorpyrifos degradation (t0.5) was estimated to be 6.3 h for 3000 microg/g of substrate, 17.5 h for 6000 microg/g and 732.2 h for 12000 microg/g. Process performance was assessed by monitoring chlorpyrifos concentration and biochemical process parameters viz., pH, oxidation and reduction potential (ORP), dissolved oxygen (DO), oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and microbial count (CFU) during sequence operation. From the experimental data obtained it can be concluded that the rate-limiting step with the bioslurry phase reactor in the process of chlorpyrifos degradation may be attributed to the concentration of substrate present in either soil or liquid phase. Periodic operations (SBR) by varying individual components of substrate with time in each process step place micro-organisms under nutritional changes from feast to famine and maintains a wide distribution in the population of micro-organisms resulting in high uptake of the substrate in the bioslurry reactor.