Biodegradation of pentachlorophenol in an aerobic reactor

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2006

Authors

Moreira, JL (Author) Other; Alves, A (Author) FEUP; Santos, L (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Fresenius Environmental Bulletin

Vol. 15 No. 4

Pages: 301-305

ISSN: 1018-4619

Publisher: Technische Universitat Munchen

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 3 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 3 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Earth and related Environmental sciences

CORDIS: Technological sciences > Engineering > Chemical engineering

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-004-PQ2

Abstract (EN): Chlorophenols are considered to be priority pollutants by both the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) and the European Union (EU), due to their high toxicity and mutagenic and carcinogenic properties. Therefore, the need arises to evaluate the biodegradation of pentachlorophenol (PCP), present in wastewaters in low concentrations (below 1 mg/l), and in the presence of other competitive carbon sources, in order to meet the demands of the current legislation for this type of discharges. An experiment was carried out with a 3-L continuously activated sludge reactor (hydraulic retention time of 4 h) using soil as the inoculum. The PCP concentration was analyzed by solid phase micro-extraction (SPME), followed by gas chromatography using an electron capture detector (GC/ECD). Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and optical density at 610 nm were also analyzed. The results show that 33 days after feeding the reactor with a synthetic sewage containing all the nutrients to its operation and PCP at a level of 106.3 mu g/L, the PCP removal stabilized in an average result of 51.1%. For a 200 mu g/L feed, no PCP removal was observed within the experimental period. The average COD removal in the reactor during this work was 65.5%, for an average COD feed of 189 mg/L.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 5