An Application of Sequencing Batch Reactors in Microbial Degradation of Benzene, Toluene & Xylene under Anoxic and Micro Aerobic Condition

Maulin Shah^1,

¹Industrial Waste Water Research Laboratory, Division of Applied & Environmental Microbiology, Enviro Technology Limited, Gujarat, India

Cite this paper:
Maulin Shah. An Application of Sequencing Batch Reactors in Microbial Degradation of Benzene, Toluene & Xylene under Anoxic and Micro Aerobic Condition. Journal of Applied & Environmental Microbiology. 2014; 2(5):231-236. doi: 10.12691/jaem-2-5-5

Abstract

This paper mainly focuses on treatment process for Benzene, Toluene & Xylene (BTX) containing wastewater by using an alternating anoxic/micro aerobic sequencing batch reactor to overcome the stripping of BTX compounds into the atmosphere, as often occurs in conventional aerobic treatment processes. An ORP probe was successfully used to monitor different electron acceptor conditions in sequencing batch reactors whereas a DO probe failed to detect the low DO concentration under micro aerobic conditions. Toluene and m-xylene were amenable to anoxic (denitrifying) metabolism while benzene, o-, and p-xylene were biodegradable under micro aerobic conditions. Compared to conventional aerobic treatment processes, this approach can eliminate vigorous aeration and significantly reduce stripping of BTX (and other volatile contaminants amenable to anoxic/micro aerobic biodegradation) caused by aeration.

Keywords:
anoxic BTX microaerobic ORP SBR

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	Alvarez, P. J. J., and T. M. Vogel. 1995. Degradation of BTEX and their aerobic metabolites by indigenous microorganisms under nitrate reducing conditions. Wat. Sci. Tech. 31: 15-28.
[2]	APHA, AWWA, and WEF. 1995. Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. 19th ed. Washington, D. C.
[3]	Bailey, E. L., and N. G. Love. 1999. Treatment of a wastewater containing nitrification inhibiting oximes using a single-sludge nitrogen removal treatment system. Wat. Environ. Res. 71: 94-101.
[4]	Ball, H. A., and M. Reinhard. 1996. Monoaromatic hydrocarbon transformation under anaerobic conditions at seal beach, California: laboratory studies. Environ. Toxicol. Chem 15: 114-122.
[5]	Biegert, T., and G. Fuchs. 1995. Anaerobic oxidation of toluene (analogues) to benzoate (analogues) by whole cells and by cell extracts of a denitrifying Thauera sp. Arch. Microbiol. 163: 407-417.
[6]	Burland, S. M., and E. A. Edwards. 1999. Anaerobic benzene degradation linked to nitrate reduction. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65: 529-533.
[7]	Chin, K. K. 1994. Evaluation of treatment efficiency of processes for petroleum refinery wastewater. Wat. Sci. Tech. 29: 47-50.
[8]	Dold, P. L. 1989. Current practice for treatment of petroleum refinery wastewater and toxics removal. Wat. Poll. Res. J. Canada 24: 363-390.
[9]	Evans, P. J., D. T. Mang, K. S. Kim, and L. Y. Young. 1991. Anaerobic degradation of toluene by denitrifying bacterium. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 57: 1139-1145.
[10]	Fettig, J. D. 1998. Stoichiometry and kinetics of BTX degradation by a denitrifying activated sludge consortium receiving a mixed waste. Master thesis. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
[11]	Fries, M. R., J. Z. Zhou, J. Chee-Sanford, and J. M. Tiedje. 1994. Isolation, characterization, and distribution of denitrifying toluene degraders from a variety of habitats. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 60: 2802-2810.
[12]	Glass, C., and J. Silverstein. 1998. Denitrification kinetics of high nitrate concentration water: pH effect on inhibition and nitrite accumulation. Wat. Res. 32: 831-839.
[13]	Koch, F. A., and W. K. Oldham. 1985. Oxidation-reduction potential - A tool for monitoring, control and optimization of biological nutrient removal systems. Wat. Sci. Tech. 17: 259-281.
[14]	Kukor, J. J., and R. H. Olsen. 1996. Catechol 2, 3-dioxygenases functional in oxygen limited (hypoxic) environments. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 62: 1728-1740.
[15]	Langenhoff, A. A. M., A. J. B. Zehnder, and Schraa G. 1996. Behavior of toluene, benzene and naphthalene under anaerobic conditions in sediment columns. Biodegradation 7: 267-274.
[16]	Leahy, J. G., and R. H. Olsen. 1997. Kinetics of toluene degradation by toluene-oxidizing bacteria as a function of oxygen concentration, and the effect of nitrate. FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 23.
[17]	Rabus, R., and F. Widdel. 1995. Anaerobic degradation of ethyl benzene and other aromatic hydrocarbons by new denitrigying bacteria. Arch. Microbiol. 163: 96-103.
[18]	Reinhard, M., S. Shang, P. K. Kitanidis, E. Orwin, G. D. Hopkins, and C. A. Lebron. 1997. In situ BTEX biotransformation under enhanced nitrate- and sulfate-reducing conditions. Environ. Sci. Technol. 31: 28-36.
[19]	Su, J. J., and D. Kafkewitz. 1994. Utilization of toluene and xylenes by a nitrate reducing strain of Pseudomonas maltophilia under low oxygen and anoxic conditions. FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 15: 249-258.