Anaerobic Treatment for the Removal of Phenolic Compounds and Saturated Hydrocarbons

Abstract

The efficiency of an UASB reactor for the removal of phenol, 2-chlorophenol, 2-nitrophenol, 2,4-dimethylphenol, hexane and heptane from a wastewater prepared in the laboratory was evaluated, using glucose as co-substrate. The volumetric organic load applied to the UASB reactor varied among 0.90-5.60 kg DQO/m3.d, with a TRH of 1 d. With the application of the biological treatment, the following removal percentages were reached, in the evaluated parameters: DQO, 81.54%; phenol, 33.65%; 2-chlorophenol, 76.60%; 2-nitrophenol, 54.81%; 2,4-dimethylphenol, 77.03%; hexane and heptane were not detected in the effluent of the UASB reactor. The biosorption and volatilization of the organic compounds were not evaluated. The investigation allowed demonstrating the applicability of the anaerobic biological system to the treatment of wastewaters containing toxic organic compounds, in the concentrations used in this investigation. Nevertheless, phenol concentration in the effluent was over 0.5 mg/L, value demanded by the Venezuelan norm.