Characterisation of microbial flocs formed from raw textile wastewater in aerobic biofilm reactor (ABR)

Water Sci Technol. 2009;60(3):683-8. doi: 10.2166/wst.2009.440.

Abstract

Microbial flocs formed from raw textile wastewater in a prototype Aerobic Biofilm Reactor (ABR) system were characterised and studied for their potential use in the treatment of textile wastewater. After 90-100 days of operation, microbial flocs of loose irregular structures were obtained from the reactor with good settling velocity of 33 m/h and sludge volume index (SVI) of 48.2 mL/g. Molecular analysis of the flocs using PCR-amplified 16S rDNA sequence showed 98% homology to those of Bacillus sp, Paenibacillus sp and Acromobacter sp. Detection of Ca(2+)(131 mg/g) and Fe(2+)(131 mg/g) using atomic absorption spectrometer might be implicated with the flocs formation. In addition, presence of Co(2+) and Ni(2+) were indicative of the flocs ability to accumulate at least a fraction of the metals' present in the wastewater. When the flocs were used for the treatment of raw textile wastewater, they showed good removal of COD and colour about 55% and 70% respectively, indicating their potential application.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aerobiosis
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification
  • Bacteria / metabolism*
  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Biofilms / growth & development*
  • Bioreactors / microbiology*
  • Color
  • Flocculation
  • Industrial Waste / analysis*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Oxygen / isolation & purification
  • Phylogeny
  • Textiles*
  • Waste Disposal, Fluid
  • Water Purification

Substances

  • Industrial Waste
  • Oxygen