Application of sequential expanded granular sludge bed reactors for biodegradation of acetate, benzoate, terephtalate andp-toluate in purified terephtalic acid production wastewater

Abstract

The anaerobic degradation of four major constituents from purified terephtalic acid production wastewater in sequential two expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactors was studied. The performance of the system was evaluated in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiencies, methane production, stability, granular sludge adaptability as well as reversion of bacterial inhibition. With volumetric loading rates of 1.9-25 kg-COD m(-3) d(-1) and terephtalate and p-toluate of 584-821 mg L(-1), average removal efficiencies of 97.6% and 75.2% were achieved in the EGSB reactors, respectively. In these conditions, gas production reached a total methane production rate of 0.33 L g-COD(-1) in the two-stage EGSB reactor system. The disturbance of the EGSB reactors was observed at a feed concentration above around 6.9 g-COD L(-1) because of higher influent COD concentration compared to other experiments.

A novel bioreactor design for enhanced aerobic granular sludge formation: effects of cationic polymer and boric acid addition

“…Biodegradation of TA is great importance due to its harmful effects on both environmental and human health (Dai et al , 2006). Anaerobic degradation of purified terephthalic acid (PTA) wastewater components were studied (Lee and Han, 2014, 2016; Kuroda et al , 2016) frequently, due to the economical and efficiency benefits. In recently, degradation of TA and related compounds, such as p‐Toluic acid (p‐Tol) and 4‐carboxybenzaldehyde (4‐CBA), is more intensively studying with the development of aerobic sludge granulation.…”