Coupled solar photo-Fenton and biological treatment for the degradation of diuron and linuron herbicides at pilot scale

Chemosphere. 2008 Jun;72(4):622-9. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2008.02.043. Epub 2008 Apr 10.

Abstract

A coupled solar photo-Fenton (chemical) and biological treatment has been used to remove biorecalcitrant diuron (42 mg l(-1)) and linuron (75 mg l(-1)) herbicides from water at pilot plant scale. The chemical process has been carried out in a 82 l solar pilot plant made up by four compound parabolic collector units, and it was followed by a biological treatment performed in a 40 l sequencing batch reactor. Two Fe(II) doses (2 and 5 mg l(-1)) and sequential additions of H2O2 (20 mg l(-1)) have been used to chemically degrade the initially polluted effluent. Next, biodegradability at different oxidation states has been assessed by means of BOD/COD ratio. A reagent dose of Fe=5 mg l(-1) and H2O2=100 mg l(-1) has been required to obtain a biodegradable effluent after 100 min of irradiation time. Finally, the organic content of the photo-treated solution has been completely assimilated by a biomass consortium in the sequencing batch reactor using a total suspended solids concentration of 0.2 g l(-1) and a hydraulic retention time of 24h. Comparison between the data obtained at pilot plant scale (specially the one corresponding to the chemical step) and previously published data from a similar system performing at laboratory scale, has been carried out.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Bioreactors
  • Diuron / chemistry
  • Diuron / isolation & purification*
  • Diuron / metabolism
  • Herbicides / chemistry
  • Herbicides / isolation & purification*
  • Herbicides / metabolism
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / chemistry*
  • Iron / chemistry*
  • Laboratories
  • Linuron / chemistry
  • Linuron / isolation & purification*
  • Linuron / metabolism
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Photochemistry
  • Pilot Projects
  • Sunlight*

Substances

  • Fenton's reagent
  • Herbicides
  • Linuron
  • Diuron
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Iron