Scale-up evaluation of anaerobic degradation of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate from sanitary sewage in expanded granular sludge bed reactor

• Published in: International biodeterioration & biodegradation 2019-03, Vol.138, p.23-32
• Main Authors: Granatto, C.F., Macedo, T.Z., Gerosa, L.E., Sakamoto, I.K., Silva, E.L., Varesche, M.B.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkylbenzene sulfonate; Alkylbenzenesulfonates; Archaea; Biodegradation; Bioremediation; Chromium; Copper; Degradation; Diversity indices; EGSB; Geobacter; Granular sludge; Iron; Lead; Limonene; Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate; Manganese; Metals; Methanosaeta; Microorganisms; Nickel; Organic acids; Phenols; Reactors; Recalcitrant organic matter; Sewage; Sludge; Sludge bed; Sludge bed reactors; Terpinene; Zinc
• ISSN: 0964-8305; 1879-0208
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ibiod.2018.12.010

Sanitary sewage composed of 6.2 ± 3.2 mgLAS L−1, low diversity of organic acids (21.4 ± 18.9 and 2.1 ± 3.9 mg L−1, for acetic and propionic, respectively), metals (Fe, Zn, Pb, Mn, Ni, Cr, Cu) and xenobiotic compounds (limonene, terpinene, phenol, indolizine) were used in the pilot-scale EGSB reactor feed (69 L). For influent load of 1.4 ± 0.7 mgLAS gVS−1d−1 and 50 ± 15 mgCOD gVS−1 d−1, removal efficiencies were 60 ± 30% and 77 ± 28% for LAS and COD, respectively. According to the alpha diversity indices (Shannon, Chao-1and Simpson), the sanitary sewage composition did not negatively affect the microbial richness throughout the 314 days of EGSB reactor operation. Bacteria related to LAS degradation such as Synergistes, Syntrophus, Clostridium and Geobacter were identified. For the Archaea Domain, Methanosaeta was the dominant genus. Therefore, in the present study the application of a pilot-scale EGSB reactor was considered viable for the LAS bioremediation in sanitary sewage. [Display omitted] •Pilot scale EGSB (69L) was applied to LAS removal from sanitary sewage during 314 days.•Analytical characterization of sanitary sewage and massive sequencing were employed.•The LAS concentration in sanitary sewage varied from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.•The LAS removal on a pilot scale was similar to that obtained on bench scale.•There was no variation in the α-diversity values for Bacteria and Archaea Domains.