Removal of endosulfan in a sequencing batch reactor: addition of granular activated carbon as improvement strategy

A granular activated carbon‐sequencing batch reactor (GAC‐SBR) was used to assess the removal of organochlorine endosulfan pesticide. The reactor operated in three stages: (I) starter and stabilization; (II) addition of 4 mg/L of endosulfan in feed; and (III) a single addition of 1 g/L of GAC to mixed liquor. During the 249 days of operation, the removal efficiency of COD was 96 ± 2%; for NH4+‐N 72 ± 1%; and for PO4−3‐P 48 ± 13%. Was eliminated the 79% of endosulfan in stage II and 99% in stage III, not found its metabolite (endosulfan sulphate) in the reactor effluent. A consortium of eight bacterial strains was identified in the reactor stages, assessing five of them in the presence of 4 mg endosulfan/L by growth kinetics. According to the results, the joint action of the consortium and GAC addition is the responsible of eliminating the pesticide.