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Decolourisations and biodegradations of model azo dye solutions using a sequence batch reactor, followed by ultrafiltration

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Abstract

The main objective of this study was to investigate the efficiency of biological treatment of azo dye-containing wastewater with a sequencing batch reactor system, followed by ultrafiltration. The performance of the system was quantified by measuring the chemical oxygen demand and azo dye concentration. The biodegradation was carried out under combined alternating anaerobic and aerobic conditions with Nylosan Yellow E2RL SGR as a model azo dye contaminant. The bioprocess revealed a maximal reduction in chemical oxygen demand and dye removal efficiency of 91 and 85%, respectively. After ultrafiltration of effluent from the biological treatment, the efficiency increased to 94% for chemical oxygen demand and to 97% for the azo dye decolourisation. Samples of activated sludge from the bioprocess were collected for microbial characterisation. Bacteria and fungi were isolated and identified by 16S rRNA gene and ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2 sequence analysis, respectively. Serratia marcescens and Klebsiella oxytoca were the most common bacteria with the highest number present during the aerobic and anaerobic phases of the bioprocess. In addition, a high number of Elizabethkingia miricola, Morganella morganii, Comamonas testosteroni, Trichosporon sp. and Galactomyces sp. were detected. Taken together, our results demonstrated that the sequencing batch reactor system combined with ultrafiltration is an efficient technique for treatment of wastewater containing azo dye. Moreover, the ultrafiltration effectively removes the microbiota from the final effluent resulting in stable product water.

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Acknowledgements

The study was financed within the EraSME Project titled “High-efficient and cost-effective air lift MBR for water reuse in textile finishing”, Project No. 430-26/2010/40.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova ulica 17, 2000, Maribor, Slovenia

    J. Korenak, J. Trček, C. Hélix-Nielsen & I. Petrinic

  2. Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Koroska cesta 160, 2000, Maribor, Slovenia

    J. Ploder & J. Trček

  3. Technical University of Denmark, Department of Environmental Engineering, Miljøvej 113, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark

    C. Hélix-Nielsen

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  1. J. Korenak
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  2. J. Ploder
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Correspondence to J. Korenak.

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Editorial responsibility: M. Abbaspour.

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Korenak, J., Ploder, J., Trček, J. et al. Decolourisations and biodegradations of model azo dye solutions using a sequence batch reactor, followed by ultrafiltration. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 15, 483–492 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-017-1406-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-017-1406-z

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