Selection of thermophilic cultures to purify coking plant effluents

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Coke Chem., USSR (Engl. Transl.); (United States)

OSTI ID:6019195

Papkov, G I; Mgen, V A; Valuev, V I; Sukhomlinov, B P

Coking plant effluents are purified in biochemical installations to remove phenols and thiocyanates. The processes that take place in these installations demand specific conditions; in particular, the optimum temperature is 30 to 34/sup 0/C. Plant effluent arrives for purification at around 60/sup 0/C and must first be cooled, thereby adding to the capital and running costs of purification. It is cost effective to purify effluents without preliminary cooling by using thermophilic microorganisms. The main use of thermophilic organisms for effluent purification has hitherto been in the anaerobic treatment of sewage sludge in methane tanks. The aerobic purification of effluents with active sludge at higher temperatures has been investigated but the results remain to be confirmed under conditions corresponding to those in coking plants, with reference to all the factors that can influence the purification process. Accordingly, a special research program was drawn up with the aim of identifying those self-supporting cultures of microorganisms capable of digesting phenols and thiocyanates. All the thermophilic species listed are capable of oxidizing both phenols and thiocyanates. Thus it is possible by adaptation and selection to form self-propagating thermophilic cultures capable of digesting phenols and thiocyanates. The optimum temperature range, at which phenols and thiocyanates alike are oxidized most rapidly, is 50 to 65/sup 0/C.These results show that it is practically feasible to operate the biochemical installations in coking plants at higher temperatures. The precise operating conditions for use with thermophilic microorganisms are a different problem.

• OSTI ID: 6019195
• Journal Information: Coke Chem., USSR (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Journal Name: Coke Chem., USSR (Engl. Transl.); (United States) Vol. 9; ISSN COKCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010401 -- Coal & Coal Products-- Carbonization-- (-1987)
010800* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Waste Management
AROMATICS
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION
CARBONIC ACID DERIVATIVES
CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COKING PLANTS
DECOMPOSITION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
LIQUID WASTES
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHENOLS
PURIFICATION
THERMOPHILIC CONDITIONS
THIOCYANATES
WASTE WATER
WASTES
WATER
WATER TREATMENT