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Enzyme and Microbial Technology 38 (2006) 887–892 Biological treatment of acid dyeing wastewater using a sequential anaerobic/aerobic reactor system ...

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Enzyme and Microbial Technology 38 (2006) 887–892

Biological treatment of acid dyeing wastewater using a sequential anaerobic/aerobic reactor system Mustafa Is¸ık a , Delia Teresa Sponza b,∗ a

b

Ni˘gde University, Aksaray Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, 68100 Aksaray, Turkey Dokuz Eylul University, Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, Buca Kaynaklar Campus, 35160 Izmir, Turkey Received 16 March 2004; received in revised form 25 April 2005; accepted 22 May 2005

Abstract The treatment of the wastewater taken from a wool dyeing processing in a wool manufacturing plant was investigated using an anaerobic/aerobic sequential system. The process units consisted of an anaerobic UASB reactor and an aerobic CSTR reactor. Glucose, alkalinity and azo dyes were added to the raw acid dyeing wastewater in order to simulate the dye industry wastewater since the raw wastewater contained low levels of carbon, NaHCO3 and color through anaerobic/aerobic sequential treatment. The UASB reactor gave COD and color removals of 51–84% and 81–96%, respectively, at a HRT of 17 h. The COD and color removal efficiencies of the UASB/CSTR sequential reactor system were 97–83% and 87–80%, respectively, at a hydraulic retention time (HRTs) of 3.3 days. The aromatic amines (TAA) formed in the anaerobic stage were effectively removed in the aerobic stage. © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Keywords: Acid wool dyeing; Azo dyes; Sequential; Biological treatment

1. Introduction Textile processing industries produce COD at varying high quantities and composition in the effluent depending on the wet processes employed. The aqueous content of such effluents was summarized by Correria et al. [1] at between 3 and 9 dm−3 kg−1 for cotton desizing and up to 334–835 dm−3 kg−1 for wool washing in the textile industry. In the acid dyeing of wool the major pollutant types may consist of the salts (sodium chloride and sodium sulphate used for neutralizing the zeta potential of the fibre), acids (acetic and sulphuric acid for pH control), bases (sodium hydroxide for pH control) and dyes (for dyeing the fibre). Residual dyes coupled with the auxiliary chemicals are responsible for the color, dissolved solids and the COD in the dyeing wastewaters. The characteristics of acid dyeing wastewater depend on the type of dye, the fiber and the dyeing method. Horning [2] reported that wool-acid dyeing wastewaters contained an average color load of 3200 ADMI (American Dye Manufacturers Institute Unit), a total organic carbon (TOC) of 210 mg dm−3 , a suspended solid (SS)



Corresponding author. Tel.: +90 232 4531008/1119; fax: +90 232 4531153. E-mail address: [email protected] (D.T. Sponza).

0141-0229/$ – see front matter © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.enzmictec.2005.05.018

of 9 mg dm−3 and a pH of 4 through different dyeing processes. Generally the dyeing effluents have a high color content and high dissolved solids (DS) coupled with moderate BOD values [1]. Dyes are required to be removed by appropriate technologies, as they are problematic in the receiving water. To date the treatment of textile wastewaters has been based mainly on aerobic biological processes, consisting mainly of conventional and extended activated sludge methods [3]. The oxygen consumptions and the sludge yields are generally high and incur high operational costs [4]. Moreover, aerobic processes are unable to degrade azo dyes and the largest group of synthetic colorants (60–70%) [5]. The highly electrophilic azo bond can be cleaved through azo dye decolorization under anaerobic conditions. The aromatic amines that are produced from such azo cleavage can be removed in aerobic environments [6]. Recent researches have shown that synthetic and simulating wastewater, containing azo dyes and other additives, can be effectively treated in a sequential anaerobic/aerobic environment [7–14]. However, the treatment of wool dyeing wastewaters using anaerobic/aerobic sequential reactor systems has not been reported. In this study, the treatment of a wastewater taken from a wool dyeing processing from the wool manufacturing plant located in Izmir, was investigated using a sequential upflow anaerobic

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Table 1 Characterization of acid dyeing wastewater during the operation period Operation periods (days)

Run 1 (1–7) Additiona

Total COD (mg dm−3 ) Soluble COD (mg dm−3 ) Inert COD (mg dm−3 ) TOC (mg dm−3 ) Alkalinity (mg dm−3 ) pH λmax (nm) Absorbance

1908

1930 8.67

Run 2 (8–17)

Run 3 (18–33)

Raw

Additiona

606 375 – 88 380 7.26 480 1.015

1593 1414 463 1460 8.43 480 0.929

Run 4 (34–49)

Raw

Additiona

Raw

– 212 – – 110 5.86 540 0.080

– 1054

499 476 200 170 120 6.41 500 1.874

– 1350 7.68 520 1.728

Additiona 1445 487 1220 8.33 500 1.945

a Glucose, alkalinity and dyes were added to feed in order to simulate the acid dyeing wastewater since the raw wastewater contained low level of carbon (COD), NaHCO3 and color. COD is required for the reductive conditions through the cleavage of azo bonds under anaerobic conditions. The values given in second colon represent the data measured through the experiments.

sludge blanket reactor (UASB)/aerobic continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) system. 2. Material and methods 2.1. Laboratory-scale reactor system, seed and operating conditions Continuously fed stainless steel anaerobic UASB and aerobic CSTR reactors were used in sequence for the experimentation. The UASB reactor had a 2.5 dm−3 of effective volume with an internal diameter of 6 cm and a height of 100 cm. The CSTR reactor consisted of an aeration tank (effective volume = 9 dm−3 ) and a settling compartment (effective volume = 1.32 dm−3 ). Treated effluent was passed through a U-tube to trap the biomass before it was allowed to run to the aerobic tank under steady-state conditions. The wastewater passage from the aeration tank to the sedimentation tank was through the holes in the inclined plate. The sludge recycle was through the gap under the plate. The effluent of the anaerobic UASB reactor was used as the influent of aerobic CSTR reactor. Partially granulated anaerobic sludge was used as a seed in UASB reactor and was taken from the methanogenic reactor of Pakmaya Yeast Baker Factory in Izmir. An activated sludge culture, obtained from the DYO Dye Industry in Izmir, was used as seed for the aerobic CSTR reactor. The suspended solid and volatile suspended solid (VSS) concentrations in the UASB reactor were 31.7 g dm−3 and 22.4 g VSS dm−3 , respectively, while the mixed liquor suspended solid (MLSS) concentration in CSTR reactor was about 3000 mg dm−3 by adjusting the sludge age to 20 days. The flowrate was kept constant at 3.5 l day−1 throughout 49 days of operation period. The hydraulic retention time (HRTs) of UASB, CSTR and total UASB/CSTR reactor system were 17 h, 2.6 days and 3.3 days, respectively. UASB/CSTR reactor system was fed with synthetic wastewater and dye in order to simulate the acid dyeing wastewater since the raw wastewater contained low COD and color. The characterization of wastewater is given in Table 1.

2.2. Acid dyeing wastewater Wastewater was taken from the wool dyeing processing unit and transported to the laboratory for feeding the sequential UASB/CSTR reactor system. This system was previously used for the treatment of a synthetic wastewater contained azo dyes at a concentration as high as 4000 mg dm−3 [6,13,14]. Characterization of the wastewater taken from the wool dyeing unit was performed before feeding the sequential anaerobic/aerobic reactor system. In the fabric treatment, acid dyeing was carried out with the treatment of 15 kg of dye, 15 kg of sulphuric acid, about 2 dm−3 of anti-foam to prevent foaming and 30–35 kg of salt (sodium sulphate) after 550–600 kg of the wool was boiled to yield the desired color (personal reviewing). The characterization of the real wastewater taken from the dyed wool fabric is summarized in Table 1. The characteristics of wastewater used in this study were similar that of acid dyeing wastewaters produced from

the wool dyeing [1]. As can be seen in this table, the dissolved COD, inert COD and TOC were 476, 200 and 170 mg dm−3 , respectively, in Run 4. The laboratory-scale UASB/CSTR reactor system was fed with 2000 mg dm−3 of glucose-COD, 3000 mg dm−3 of NaHCO3 and 25 ml dm−3 of Vanderbilt mineral medium during 7 days of start-up period in the Run 1. In this run no dye was added to the wastewater since it was fed synthetically. In the treatment studies of acid dye wastewaters, 1000 mg dm−3 of glucose-COD and 2000 mg NaHCO3 dm−3 alkalinity were added in Runs 2, 3 and 4 in order to simulated dye the wastewater since the acid dye wastewaters contained low level of color, carbon and alkalinity (see Table 1). Suitable alkalinity provides stable neutral pH conditions for anaerobic microorganisms through anaerobic treatment. Furthermore it neutralizes the acidity and the volatile fatty acids produced through anaerobic treatment. Carbon source provides reducing environments for reductive cleavage of azo bonds. On the other hand in order to stimulate the anaerobic treatment a COD concentration as high as 1500–2000 mg dm−3 should be provided to wastewater. 200 mg dm−3 of azo dye was added to raw wastewater in Run 3 since the raw wastewater contained low color through the operation of UASB/CSTR reactor system. The reason for using 200 mg dm−3 of azo dye is owing its maximum availability in real dye industry wastewater. In this study it was aimed to determine the maximum COD and color removal efficiencies and methane gas productions through anaerobic treatment by addition of carbon, alkalinity and dye. Table 2 summarizes the characterization of the dyes that were used in the dyeing processing of the fabric and the dyes added to the laboratory-scale UASB/CSTR reactor system.

2.3. Analytical procedures Gas production was measured using a liquid displacement method. Total gas was measured by passing the gas through a liquid containing 2% (v/v) H2 SO4 and 10% (v/v) NaCl [15]. The percentage of methane in biogas was determined by use of a Dr¨ager Pac® Ex methane gas analyzer. The measurement of color was carried out following the approaches described by Olthof and Eckenfelder [16] for the various dyes used in the dyeing process. According to these methods, the color content was determined by measuring the absorbance at three wavelengths (445, 540 and 660 nm), taking the sum of the absorbances at these wavelengths. The absorbance of effluents in Runs 1, 2 and 3 was corrected by subtracting the absorbance values measured in the effluent of Run 1 due to metabolic residues. To convert the absorbance value into m−1 , the equation given below was used: α=

A ×f d

where α is the color in m−1 unit (m−1 = A/10 mm × 1000), A the measured absorbance value from spectrophotometer, d the sample length (cell width, 10 mm) and f is a factor (1000). The soluble COD was measured colorimetrically using closed reflux methods [17]. The inert COD content of the acid dyeing wastewater was determined using the glucose comparison method developed by Germirli [18] measuring all the soluble forms of COD under aerobic conditions. Bicarbonate alkalinity

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Table 2 The dyes used through acid dyeing in operation period Name

Formula of dyes

Acid Blue 113 C.I. 26360

C32 H23 N5 O6 S2 , 682 g mol−1

Direct Black 22 C.I. 35435

C44 H32 N13 Na3 O11 S3 , 1084 g mol−1 Sarasit Blue SR

Chemical formula was not found

(B.Alk.) and total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations were measured simultaneously using the titrimetric method of Anderson and Yang [19]. The pH was determined immediately after sampling to avoid any change due to CO2 evolution, using a pH meter, type NEL pH 890. The dissolved oxygen (DO) and the temperature of the aeration tank of the CSTR were measured using an oxygen meter (model Oxi 330/SET) manufactured by WTW (Germany). The biomass was measured as the total suspended solids (TSS) and the volatile suspended solids in the UASB reactor, and as the mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) and mixed liquor volatile suspended solids (MLVSS), in the aeration tank of CSTR. Assays were performed according to standard methods for examination of water and wastewater [17]. Total aromatic amines were determined colorimetrically at 440 nm after reacting the samples with 4-dimethylamino benzaldehyde–HCl according to the method described by Oren et al. [20] and calibrated with benzidine standards [20]. The data given in figures are the mean of three repetitive samplings with standard deviation (S.D.) values.

2.4. Statistical analysis

Information

This dye was used in acid dye processing of the fabric (Run 2). This dye was added to the raw wastewater in Run 3 at 100 mg dm−3

This dye was used in acid dye processing of the fabric (Run 2). This dye was added to raw wastewater in Run 3 at 100 mg dm−3 This dye was used in acid dye processing of the fabric (Run 3). The dyes mentioned above were added to wastewater since the synthetic wastewater had low absorbance

to the raw wastewater. In this run the reactor system was operated under favorable conditions (low VFA and high methane gas production rates). No significant linear correlation between VFA and methane gas production was observed (r2 = 0.49, P = 0.39, F = 1.43). The ratios of VFA/B.Alk. and pH values are illustrated in Fig. 2. In Run 4, the VFA concentrations increased slightly but did not exceed the critical value for VFA/B.Alk. (0.4). The VFA/B.Alk. ratios were about 0.15 in Run 4, indicating the stability of the UASB reactor [21] while the VFA/B.Alk. ratio was determined to be 0.025 in Run 3. The measured pH values were suitable (6.5–7.5) [22] for optimum anaerobic treatment through all runs. As the B.Alk. values decreased the methane production rates decreased. The regression analysis indicated that the linear relationship between B.Alk. and methane gas production was statistically significant (r2 = 0.79, P = 0.09, F = 7.55). As the B.Alk. values decreased the VFA concentration increased.

Regression analysis between variables was performed using the EXCELL in Microsoft WindowsTM (HP, USA). The linear correlation was assessed with r2 . The r2 value is the correlation coefficient and reflects statistical significance between dependent and independent variables. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) (SAS ANOVA procedure) test was used to assess the data obtained in reactors using the EXCELL in Microsoft WindowsTM (HP, USA).

3. Results and discussion 3.1. Variations in the methane production rate, the VFA and the B.Alk. in the UASB reactor The variations of VFA, B.Alk. and methane production rate in effluent of UASB reactor are shown in Fig. 1 for all runs. The VFA, B.Alk. levels and methane gas production rates were 40 mg CH3 COOH dm−3 , 1593 mg CaCO3 dm−3 and 1437 ml CH4 day−1 , respectively, through Run 3 when Acid Blue 113 and C.I. Direct Black 22 of 100 mg dm−3 were added

Fig. 1. Variation in methane production rate, VFA and B.Alk. concentrations in four operation runs.

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Fig. 2. Variation of pH and VFA/B.Alk. ratios in the effluent of UASB reactor.

A significant linear correlation between B.Alk. and VFA concentration was observed (r2 = 0.81, P = 0.07, F = 8.76). 3.2. COD removal efficiencies of UASB/CSTR reactor system The COD removal efficiencies in the total system are shown in Fig. 3. It may be said that the COD was removed with removal efficiencies varying between 85 and 95 in Runs 1, 2 and 3 while 75% COD removal efficiencies was observed in Run 4. In Runs 2, 3 and 4, 1000 mg dm−3 of the glucose-COD was added to raw wastewater while the wastewater contained only glucoseCOD of 2000 mg dm−3 in Run 1. The effluent glucose-COD was reduced to as low as 60 mg dm−3 at a total HRT of 2.3 days in the UASB/CSTR sequential system in Run 1 since it contained only glucose-COD. This COD value could be attributed to COD associated with inert soluble microbial products since glucose is a readily degraded organic matter and consumed completely by the anaerobic microorganisms [23]. COD from the soluble microbial products (SMP) through substrate metabolism and biomass decay should be considered because the effluent soluble COD might be mostly SMP (50–90%) as reported by Kuo et al. [23]. With the following runs, the final COD values were higher than the COD values obtained in Run 1 since the raw wastewater contained considerable inert COD values. In Run 4, the effluent

Fig. 3. The COD removal performance of the UASB/CSTR sequential system.

Fig. 4. Determination of inert COD in raw wastewater through Run 4.

COD of the system was decreased to about 257 ± 27 mg dm−3 since the inert COD level of raw wastewater was 200 mg dm−3 (see Fig. 4). The anaerobic system could be removed all the degradable COD and some of the inert COD from the total soluble COD fraction. COD removal efficiencies of UASB and UASB/CSTR system decreased to 51% and 83% from 84% and 94% in Run 4. It can be suggested that the differences in inert COD ratio, the ratio of slowly and readily degradable organic substances, VFA and aromatic amine ratios of acid dyeing wastewater caused changes in the removal efficiencies of the anaerobic/aerobic sequential reactor system. ANOVA test indicated that there were no significant differences between UASB reactor and whole (UASB/CSTR) reactor system based on COD removal efficiencies (p = 0.05, F = 0.19, d.f. = 3). 3.3. Performance of color removal in UASB/CSTR reactor system In the total system the efficiency of color removal was not decreased lower than 80% (Fig. 5). Color was reduced mainly in the anaerobic stage. In Runs 3 and 4, the aerobic stage helped in the removal of color since the intermediate products released from the degradation of azo dye were ultimately decolorized. For instance, in Run 3 the color of UASB influent, and effluent and CSTR effluent were 285, 93 and 44 m−1 corresponding to color removal efficiencies of 83%, 23% and 91%, in the UASB, CSTR and UASB/CSTR reactor systems, respectively. It is important to note that, in Run 1, the influent color originated from Vanderbilt mineral medium and not from the dye since the synthetic wastewater contained no dye. However, in this run, the color measured in anaerobic and aerobic effluents produced from the metabolic activity of the biomass through the metabolization of substrate. In other words, since the effluents of the control reactor (Run 1) contained only some colloidal organic matters such as metabolic excretes and dead cells these substances interfered the color measurements. Therefore, in order to measure the real color removal the absorbance values of the Runs 2, 3 and 4 reactors were calibrated with the control samples containing no dye.

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Fig. 5. Color removal efficiencies of the system through the operation of 49 days.

Therefore, color removal efficiency was not calculated in Run 1 as shown in Fig. 5. As above, similar results were obtained in a study performed by Kuai et al. [4] concerning the treatment of a textile wastewater taken from carpet dyeing and printing factories using a laboratory-scale anaerobic (UASB)/aerobic semicontinuous activated sludge (SCAS) reactor system. The COD and color in effluent was decreased to 79–219 mg dm−3 and 0.02–0.07 absorbance units (at a wavelength of 500 nm) from 6000 mg dm−3 and 0.8 absorbance units in the aforementioned system at a total HRT of 1–2 days. During the treatment of a wastewater from a dye manufacturing factory with a COD concentration of 1200 mg dm−3 and a color of 500 degree (dilution factor) in a UASB reactor (4.5 l) and an activated sludge tank (5 l), COD and color were removed by more than 83% and 90% at HRTs of 6–10 and 6.5 h for the anaerobic and aerobic stages, respectively [9]. Fig. 6 shows the absorbance measurements at varying wavelengths in a UASB/CSTR system, treating acid dyeing wastewaters in Run 4. The influent spectrum had two peaks in the visible region at wavelengths of 500 and 620 nm. In the anaerobic treated sample, the peaks occurred in the UV region at a wavelength of 360 nm, indicating the cleavage of the azo bond, thus providing evidence of the decoloration of dye. The effluent

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Fig. 7. TAA removal efficiencies in CSTR reactor.

sample from the CSTR reactor exhibited maximum absorbance spectra at low wavelengths (325 nm) due to aromatic amines produced under anaerobic conditions was removed under aerobic conditions. This shows that the parent dye was converted to other intermediate organic forms in UASB reactor, and then these intermediates were degraded in the CSTR reactor. ANOVA test indicated that there were no significant differences between color removal efficiencies between UASB reactor and whole (UASB/CSTR) system through operation days (p = 0.05, F = 0.23, d.f. = 3). 3.4. Variation of TAA in UASB/CSTR sequential system The acid dyeing wastewater contains TAAs released through the cleavage of azo dyes under anaerobic conditions. Fig. 7 shows the TAA concentrations in the effluent of reactors and TAA removal efficiencies obtained in CSTR reactor. The aerobic stage had the ability to decrease the TAA concentrations to lower than 5 mg dm−3 of TAA, as shown in Fig. 7. This result shows that the aerobic stage is very important for the removal of aromatic amines and agrees with the previous studies [24,25]. ANOVA test indicated that there were significant differences between TAA concentrations in UASB and CSTR reactor effluents (p = 0.05, F = 12.3, d.f. = 3). 4. Conclusions

Fig. 6. Absorbance spectra in influents and effluents of the reactor system at different wavelengths in Run 4.

The treatment of real textile wastewater has been carried out using aerobic biological processes, physico/chemical processes and their modifications. The addition of an anaerobic stage prior to the aerobic stage could be favorable in the treatment of the acid dyeing wastewaters since anaerobic stage can degrade the azo dyes resulting in decolorization of textile wastewater and reduce the organic loading rate on aerobic stage. The reducing environment prevailing in the UASB reactor by the electrons releasing from the azo dyes and its intermetabolite products (TAA) provide the color removal. The UASB/CSTR combined rector system showed a stable performance for the treatment of acid dyeing wastewater. Therefore, this system would have a potential to meet the effluent discharge limitations of the receiving medium for the acid dyeing wastewaters on the basis of COD,

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BOD and color removal, although color removal has no limitations yet in the Turkish receiving water discharge standards. Acknowledgements This study was supported by the Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Council (TUBITAK), and fund of Ni˘gde University, Turkey. The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from these organizations. References [1] Correira VM, Stephenson J, Judd SJ. Characterization of textile wastewater. A review. Environ Technol 1994;15:917–29. [2] Horning RH. Textile dyeing wastewaters: characterization and treatment. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Technical Information Service, PB-285; 1978. p. 115. [3] Meyer V, Carlsson FHH, Oellermann RA. Decolourazation of textile effluent using a low cost natural absorbent material. Water Sci Technol 1992;26:1205–11. [4] Kuai L, De Vreese I, Vandevivere P. GAC-amended UASB reactor for the stable treatment of toxic textile wastewater. Environ Technol 1998;19:1111–7. [5] Carliell CM, Barclay SJ, Naidoo N, Buckley CA, Mulholland DA, Senior E. Microbial decolorization of a reactive dye under anaerobic conditions. Water SA 1995;21(1):61–9. [6] Is¸ık M, Sponza DT. Aromatic amine degradation in an UASB/CSTR sequential system treating Congo Red Dye. J Environ Sci Health Part A 2003;A38(10):2301–15. [7] Zaoyan YKS, Guangliang S, Fan Y, Jinshan D, Huanian M. Anaerobic–aerobic treatment of a dye wastewater by combination of RBC with activated sludge. Water Sci Technol 1992;26(9–11):2093–6. [8] An H, Qian Y, Gu X, Tang WZ. Biological treatment of dye wastewater using anaerobic–oxic system. Chemosphere 1996;33(12):2533–42. [9] Kalyuzhnyi S, Sklyar V. Biomineralisation of azo dyes and their breakdown products in anaerobic–aerobic hybrid and UASB reactors. Water Sci Technol 2000;41(12):23–30. [10] O’Neill C, Hawkes FR, Hawkes DL, Esteves S, Wilcox SJ. Anaerobic–aerobic biotreatment of simulated textile effluent containing varied ratios of starch and azo dye. Water Res 2000;34(8):2355–61.

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