Biodegradation of Effluent Contaminated With Diesel Oil and Gasoline Using Chitosan as a Natural Coagulant in a Continuous Process

Abstract

-This study evaluated the effects of aeration (constant aeration, intermittent aeration and a lack of aeration) and hydraulic retention time (HRT) (2, 3 and 4 days) on a continuous process with cell recycling, using chitosan as a natural coagulant for the sedimentation of a C 1 mixed culture. This culture was used for the biodegradation of hydrocarbons present in the effluent contaminated with diesel oil and gasoline. The responses monitored included the turbidity removal (TR), total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) removal and volatile suspended solids (VSS). Constant aeration and an HRT of 4 days produced the best results for the continuous process, resulting in the highest TPH removals (94% and 75% reductions in the supernatant and reaction tank, respectively) and TR (95%).

Comparison of Petroleum Hydrocarbons Degradation by Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa

“…There are several methods to mitigate the risks of PHs contamination of the health of ecosystems and effects on human health, including bioremediation [11][12][13][14] and a variety of physico-chemical treatments, e.g., separation tank treatment [15], coagulant addition [16,17], and membrane separation [18]. Although physico-chemical treatments are effective in degrading these pollutants, they are limited by the high operational costs and generation of secondary toxic compounds [19].…”