Wastewater treatment using moving bed biofilm reactor technology: a case study of ceramic industry

Abstract

Biological approaches and coagulation are frequently used to reduce the chemical oxygen demand (COD) for treatment of ceramic effluent water. The technology known as the moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) can accomplish this goal. Further, the process of emulsification‐aided innovative MBBR using biosurfactants can be proposed for ceramic effluent treatment. In a step‐by‐step upgrading scheme, biosurfactants and a consortia of halophilic and halotolerant microbial culture was utilized for the treatment of the effluent water. Over the course of 21 days, a progressive decrease in COD of up to 95.79% was achieved. Over the next 48 h period, the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) was reduced by 98.3%, while total suspended solids (TSS) decreased by 79.41%. With the use of this innovative MBBR technology, biofilm formation accelerated, lowering the COD, BOD, and TSS levels. This allows treated water to be used for further research on recycling it back into the ceramics sector and repurposing it for agricultural purposes.Practitioner Points Implementation of modified MBBR technology for the treatment of effluent water. Biosurfactants could reduce in the organic and inorganic loads. Increase in MLSS values with COD removal observed. The plant operations without the use of chemical coagulants was effective with biosurfactants. Biofilm formation on carriers was scraped and the presence of surfactin and rhamnolipid was confirmed.

Isolation, Screening, Characterization, and Optimization of Biosurfactant-Producing Bacteria for Removal of Micropollutants from Textile Effluents

“…25 In a recent case study, a mixture of halophilic biosurfactants extracted from a consortium of bacteria along with the consortia of bacteria was used for the treatment of ceramic wastewater on a lab scale, pilot scale, and industry scale, where great reduction was observed in BOD, COD, TSS, total dissolved solids (TDSs), and heavy metals. 26 Microorganisms also assist in the bioremediation of heavy metals, because they may interact with metals through a variety of ways that allow them to tolerate their toxicity. Using contamination as a source of nourishment and defending organisms from toxic effects are the two major strategies by which the organisms can deal with pollutants.…”

“…One of the most crucial ways that an organism can protect itself from the harmful effects of heavy metals is through a flux system, a kind of extracellular sequestration, which forms an outer layer of defense and expels the metal ions from the cytoplasm into the periplasmic region. 26 However, the independent metabolism includes intracellular sequestering (bioaccumulation) and biotransformation. In a recent study, it was reported that the ABC transporters and natural resistance-associated macrophage protein (NRAMP) transporters mediate the uptake of specific metal ions in the cytosol of bacterial cells.…”

“…In independent metabolism, the bacterial cell wall’s extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) are important for metal adsorption. One of the most crucial ways that an organism can protect itself from the harmful effects of heavy metals is through a flux system, a kind of extracellular sequestration, which forms an outer layer of defense and expels the metal ions from the cytoplasm into the periplasmic region . However, the independent metabolism includes intracellular sequestering (bioaccumulation) and biotransformation.…”