Effects of sulfate concentration on anaerobic treatment of wastewater containing monoethanolamine using an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor
Monoethanolamine (MEA), a toxic organic chemical, is widely used in industries and is found in their wastewater. Anaerobic MEA degradation is an appropriate strategy to reduce energy and cost for treatment. Industry wastewaters also contain sulfate, but information on the effects of sulfate on MEA d...
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Veröffentlicht in: | Journal of hazardous materials 2022-10, Vol.440, p.129764-129764, Article 129764 |
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Sprache: | eng |
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Zusammenfassung: | Monoethanolamine (MEA), a toxic organic chemical, is widely used in industries and is found in their wastewater. Anaerobic MEA degradation is an appropriate strategy to reduce energy and cost for treatment. Industry wastewaters also contain sulfate, but information on the effects of sulfate on MEA degradation is limited. Here, an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) for MEA-containing wastewater treatment was operated under psychrophilic conditions (18–20 ºC) to investigate the effects of sulfate on the microbial characteristics of the retained sludge. To acclimatize the sludge, the proportion of MEA in the influent (containing sucrose, acetate, and propionate) was increased from 15% to 100% of total COD (1500 mg L–1); sulfate was then added to the influent. The COD removal efficiency remained above 95% despite the increase in MEA and sulfate. However, granular sludge disintegration was observed when sulfate was increased from 20 to 330 mg L–1. Batch tests revealed that propionate and acetate were produced as the metabolites of MEA degradation. In response to sulfate acclimation, methane-producing activities for propionate and hydrogen declined, while sulfate-reducing activities for MEA, propionate, and hydrogen increased. Accordingly, acclimation and changes in dominant microbial groups promoted the acetogenic reaction of propionate by sulfate reduction.
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•Monoethanolamine (MEA) was satisfactorily removed by UASB treatment.•Increasing sulfate levels in wastewater caused deterioration of the retained sludge.•Propionate and acetate were detected as anaerobic degradation products of MEA.•Microbial community structure was markedly changed by increasing MEA and sulfate. |
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ISSN: | 0304-3894 1873-3336 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129764 |