Evaluation of integrated anaerobic/aerobic fixed-bed sequencing batch biofilm reactor for decolorization and biodegradation of azo dye Acid Red 18: Comparison of using two types of packing media

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2013-01, Vol.127, p.415-421
• Main Authors: Hosseini Koupaie, E., Alavi Moghaddam, M.R., Hashemi, S.H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acid Red 18; Aerobiosis; Anaerobiosis; Azo Compounds - metabolism; azo dyes; Bacteria; Bacteria - metabolism; Biodegradation; Biodegradation, Environmental; biofilm; Biofilms; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; Bioreactors; Biotechnology; chemical oxygen demand; Coloring Agents - metabolism; Decoloring; Decolorization; dominant species; Dyes; Fixed-bed sequencing batch biofilm reactor (FB-SBBR); Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Kinetics; Media; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Naphthalenes; Packing media; Polyethylene; pumice; Reactors; Sequencing; Silicates; statistical analysis; Sulfonic Acids; Various methods and equipments; Waste Disposal, Fluid - methods; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism; Water Purification - methods
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.10.003

► Comparison of pumice stones and polyethylene media as biofilm support was performed. ► First-order decolorization kinetics with respect to dye concentration was observed. ► Detection and quantification of the dye metabolites by HPLC analysis were conducted. ► SEM analysis was used to investigate the attached-growth biofilm morphology. ► More than 92% of COD, 96% of dye and 63% of 1-naphthylamine-4-sulfonate was removed. Two integrated anaerobic/aerobic fixed-bed sequencing batch biofilm reactor (FB-SBBR) were operated to evaluate decolorization and biodegradation of azo dye Acid Red 18 (AR18). Volcanic pumice stones and a type of plastic media made of polyethylene were used as packing media in FB-SBBR1 and FB-SBBR2, respectively. Decolorization of AR18 in both reactors followed first-order kinetic with respect to dye concentration. More than 63.7% and 71.3% of anaerobically formed 1-naphthylamine-4-sulfonate (1N-4S), as one of the main sulfonated aromatic constituents of AR18 was removed during the aerobic reaction phase in FB-SBBR1 and FB-SBBR2, respectively. Based on statistical analysis, performance of FB-SBBR2 in terms of COD removal as well as biodegradation of 1N-4S was significantly higher than that of FB-SBBR1. Spherical and rod shaped bacteria were the dominant species of bacteria in the biofilm grown on the pumice stones surfaces, while, the biofilm grown on surfaces of the polyethylene media had a fluffy structure.