Enhanced phosphorus and ciprofloxacin removal in a modified BAF system by configuring Fe-C micro electrolysis: Investigation on pollutants removal and degradation mechanisms

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2018-01, Vol.342, p.705-714
• Main Authors: Zhang, Longlong, Yue, Qinyan, Yang, Kunlun, Zhao, Pin, Gao, Baoyu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: BAF; Ciprofloxacin; Degradation mechanisms; Fe-C micro electrolysis; Microbial community
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2017.09.010

[Display omitted] •Novel sludge ceramic and SFC were separately filled into BAF and Fe-C micro electrolysis reactor.•Configuring Fe-C micro electrolysis greatly improved the controlling of residual TP and CIP.•Four main degradation pathways were proposed according to the LC–MS analysis.•The richness and diversity of the microbial community increased a lot with CIP pressure. A modified biological aerated filter (BAF) system configured Fe-C micro electrolysis was applied to enhance phosphorus and ciprofloxacin (CIP) removal. A novel sludge ceramic and sintering ferric-carbon ceramic (SFC) were separately packed into a lab-scale BAF and Fe-C micro electrolysis reactor. The BAF and Fe-C micro electrolysis coupled system was operated about 230days. The enhancement of phosphorus and ciprofloxacin removals by Fe-C micro electrolysis, the degradation mechanisms of CIP and the variations of microbial population were investigated. The removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand (CODcr), ammonia (NH4-N), total phosphorus (TP) and CIP reached about 95%, 95%, 80% and 85% in the combined process, respectively. Configuring Fe-C micro electrolysis significantly enhanced phosphorus and CIP removal, whereas had no promotion on N removal. Four main degradation pathways were proposed according to the LC–MS analysis. More than 12 degradation products were detected through the treatment of Fe-C micro electrolysis and only 3 biodegraded products with low concentration were identified in BAF effluent. The high-throughput sequencing analysis showed that the microbial community changed a lot under CIP pressure. The relative abundance of Sphingomonadaceae, Xanthomonadaceae, Bradyrhizobium, Helicobacter and Pseudomonas increased with CIP influent. This study provides a promising process in CIP wastewater treatment.