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Enhanced biodiesel industry wastewater treatment via a hybrid MBBR combined with advanced oxidation processes: analysis of active microbiota and toxicity removal

  • Advanced Oxidation Technologies: State-of-the-Art in Ibero-American Countries
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Abstract

In the present study, a multistage route is proposed for the treatment of biodiesel industry wastewater (BWW) containing around 1000 mg L−1 of total organic carbon (TOC), 3500 mg L−1 of chemical oxygen demand (COD), and 1325 mg L−1 of oil and grease. Initially, BWW aerobic biodegradability was assessed via Zhan-Wellens biodegradability test to confirm the appropriate treatment route. Then, a hybrid moving bed bioreactor (MBBR) system was chosen as the first treatment stage. The hybrid MBBR achieved 69 and 68% removal of COD and TOC removals, respectively, and provided great conditions for biomass growth. The bacterial community present in the hybrid MBBR was investigated by PCR-DGGE and potential biodegraders were identified such as: members of Desulfuromonadales, Nocardioidaceae and Pseudomonadaceae. Since biodegradation in the hybrid MBBR alone was unable to meet quality requirements, advanced oxidation processes, such as Fenton and photo-Fenton, were optimized for application as additional treatment stages. Physicochemical properties and acute toxicity of BWW were analyzed after the multistage routes: hybrid MBBR + Fenton, hybrid MBBR + photo-Fenton and hybrid MBBR + UV-C254nm/H2O2. Hybrid MBBR + Fenton or photo-Fenton showed overall COD removal efficiencies greater than 95% and removed acute toxicity, thus being appropriate integrated routes for the treatment of real BWW.

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Abbreviations

AOP:

Advanced oxidation processes

AS:

Activated sludge

BWW:

Biodiesel wastewater

COD:

Chemical oxygen demand

MBBR:

Moving bed bioreactors

O&G:

Oil and grease

TOC:

Total organic carbon

TSS:

Total suspended solids

VSS:

Volatile suspended solids

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank FAPEMIG, CAPES, and CNPQ for the financial support and the biodiesel industry for the trustworthy collaboration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil

    Luciano de Oliveira Gonçalves, Maria Clara V. M. Starling, Cintia Dutra Leal, Juliana Calábria Araújo, Mônica Maria D. Leão & Camila C. Amorim

  2. Civil Engineering Department, University Center-Catholic of Santa Catarina, Visconde de Taunay Street, 427–Downtown, Joinville, SC, 89203-005, Brazil

    Daniel V. M. Oliveira

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  1. Luciano de Oliveira Gonçalves
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  2. Maria Clara V. M. Starling
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  3. Cintia Dutra Leal
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  4. Daniel V. M. Oliveira
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  6. Mônica Maria D. Leão
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Correspondence to Camila C. Amorim.

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de Oliveira Gonçalves, L., Starling, M.C.V.M., Leal, C.D. et al. Enhanced biodiesel industry wastewater treatment via a hybrid MBBR combined with advanced oxidation processes: analysis of active microbiota and toxicity removal. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26, 4521–4536 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-2710-y

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