Fate of toxic organic compounds in activated sludge and integrated activated sludge/carbon treatment systems. Volumes I and II

Thesis/Dissertation · Mon Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6069154

Jones, B E

Results from steady-state bioreactor studies indicated that 70 to 90% of the influent fluxes of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, chlorobenzene, and nitrobenzene and approximately 35% of the influent flux of 1,2-dichlorobenzene were biodegraded by acclimated activated sludges. Biodegradation effected approximately equal percent reductions in effluent and off-gas concentrations of the volatile, biodegradable compounds. Acclimation periods for all biodegradable compounds ranged from 14 to 21 days. Lindane and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene were found to be nonbiodegradable in the experimental system. Results from steady-state bioreactor studies showed that the addition of less than 100 mg/l powdered activated carbon did not enhance the removal of the biodegradable compounds benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, chlorobenzene, and nitrobenzene. Significantly improved removals of the poorly and non-biodegradable compounds, 1,2-dichlorobenzene, 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, and lindane, occurred at influent powdered carbon concentrations in the 12.5 to 25 mg/l range. Influent PAC concentrations of 100 mg/l effected overall removals greater than 90%. The addition of powdered activated carbon not only reduced effluent concentration, but also reduced amounts of the volatile compounds stripped to the atmosphere. PAC-bioreactor studies demonstrated that the influent PAC concentration rather than the mixed liquor PAC concentration controlled the amounts of the compounds removed during steady-state operating periods.

• Research Organization: Michigan Univ., Ann Arbor (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6069154
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTIVATED CARBON
ACTIVATED SLUDGE PROCESS
ADSORBENTS
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
AROMATICS
BENZENE
BIODEGRADATION
BIOREACTORS
CARBON
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
DECOMPOSITION
ELEMENTS
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
HYDROCARBONS
MANAGEMENT
NITRO COMPOUNDS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PESTICIDES
PROCESSING
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
TOLUENE
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WATER TREATMENT
XYLENES