Toxicity effects of formaldehyde on methanol degrading sludge and its anaerobic conversion in Biobed® Expanded Granular Sludge Bed (EGSB) reactors

Methanogenesis from formaldehyde mainly occurred via intermediates as confirmed by the increased concentrations of methanol and H2 in the liquid and gas phases respectively during formaldehyde conversion. While formaldehyde was readily transformed, the methane production rate was immediately and str...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water science and technology 1999, Vol.40 (8), p.195-202
Main Authors: GONZALEZ-GIL, G, KLEEREBEZEM, R, VAN AELST, A, ZOUTBERG, G. R, VERSPRILLE, A. I, LETTINGA, G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
afvalwaterbehandeling
anaerobic treatment
anaërobe behandeling
Applied sciences
Bacteria
biodegradatie
biodegradation
Biological and medical sciences
Biological treatment of waters
Biomass
Bioreactors
Biotechnology
Conversion
Decay
Decay rate
Dilution
Electron microscopy
Environment and pollution
Exact sciences and technology
Formaldehyde
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General purification processes
Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects
Intermediates
Methane
Methanogenesis
Methanol
Pollution
Recovery
Rivers
Scanning electron microscopy
slib
Sludge
Sludge bed
sludges
Streams
toxiciteit
Toxicity
Vapor phases
waste water treatment
Wastewater
Wastewater treatment
Wastewaters
Water treatment and pollution
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Summary:Methanogenesis from formaldehyde mainly occurred via intermediates as confirmed by the increased concentrations of methanol and H2 in the liquid and gas phases respectively during formaldehyde conversion. While formaldehyde was readily transformed, the methane production rate was immediately and strongly inhibited. Formaldehyde toxicity was in part reversible since the methane production rate recovered after formaldehyde depletion. This recovery can not be explained by biomass growth. The toxicity of formaldehyde was also in part irreversible, since the degree of recovery was not complete. This loss in the methane production rate likely can be attributed to biomass decay as suggested by its linear relation with the amount of formaldehyde dosed, as well as by scanning electron microscopy observations. The addition of the same amount of formaldehyde either in a slug or in a continuous mode caused the same loss in the methane production rate. Thus for the treatment of formaldehyde-containing streams, a balance between loss in the rate (formaldehyde-related decay) and bacterial growth should be attained. By combining good biomass retention and internal dilution of the wastewater, industrial streams containing formaldehyde can still be treated anaerobically.
ISSN:0273-1223
1996-9732
DOI:10.1016/S0273-1223(99)00626-5