A novel membrane bioreactor for detoxifying industrial wastewater. 1. Biodegradation of phenol in a synthetically concocted wastewater
- Imperial Coll. of Science and Technology, London (United Kingdom)
A novel process has been used to biodegrade phenol present in acidic and salty synthetically concocted wastewater. The process utilizes a membrane bioreactor, in which the phenol present in the wastewater is separated from the inorganic components by means of a silicone rubber membrane. Transfer of the phenol from the wastewater and into a biological growth medium allows biodegradation to proceed under controlled conditions which are unaffected by the hostile inorganic composition of the wastewater. At a wastewater flow rate of 18 mL h[sup [minus]1], 98.5% of the phenol present in the wastewater at an inlet concentration of 1,000 mg L[sup [minus]1] was degraded; at a contact time of 1.9 h, 65% of the phenol was degraded. Phenol degradation was accompanied by growth of a biofilm on the membrane tubes and by conversion of approximately 80% of the carbon entering the system to CO[sub 2] carbon. Analysis of the transport of phenol across the membrane revealed that the major resistance to mass transfer arose in the diffusion of phenol across the silicon rubber membrane. A mathematical model was used to describe the transfer of phenol across the membrane and the subsequent diffusion and reaction of phenol in the biofilm attached to the membrane tube.
- OSTI ID:
- 6502261
- Journal Information:
- Biotechnology and Bioengineering; (United States), Journal Name: Biotechnology and Bioengineering; (United States) Vol. 41:10; ISSN BIBIAU; ISSN 0006-3592
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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540320* -- Environment
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560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AROMATICS
BIODEGRADATION
BIOREACTORS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DESIGN
DETOXIFICATION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
LIQUID WASTES
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHENOL
PHENOLS
WASTE WATER
WASTES
WATER