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Treatment of flotation wastewater using biological activated carbon

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Abstract

A laboratory scale up-flow biological activated carbon (BAC) reactor was constructed for the advanced treatment of synthetic flotation wastewater. Biodegradation of a common collector (i.e., ethyl xanthate) for non-ferrous metallic ore flotation was evaluated. The results show that the two stages of domestication can improve microbial degradation ability. The BAC reactor obtains a chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction rate of 82.5% for ethyl xanthate and its effluent COD concentration lowers to below 20 mg/L. The kinetics equation of the BAC reactor proves that the activated carbon layers at the height of 0 mm to 70 mm play a key role in the removal of flotation reagents. Ultraviolet spectral analysis indicates that most of the ethyl xanthate are degraded by microorganisms after advanced treatment by the BAC reactor.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China

    Ying-bo Dong  (董颖博), Hai Lin  (林海), Quan-li Liu  (刘泉利) & Han-xin Huo  (霍汉鑫)

  2. Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education of China for High-Efficient Mining and Safety of Metal Mines, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China

    Ying-bo Dong  (董颖博) & Hai Lin  (林海)

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  1. Ying-bo Dong  (董颖博)
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  2. Hai Lin  (林海)
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  3. Quan-li Liu  (刘泉利)
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  4. Han-xin Huo  (霍汉鑫)
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hai Lin  (林海).

Additional information

Foundation item: Project(201209013) supported by Special Fund for Environmental Scientific Research in the Public Interest, China

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Dong, Yb., Lin, H., Liu, Ql. et al. Treatment of flotation wastewater using biological activated carbon. J. Cent. South Univ. 21, 3580–3587 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-014-2339-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-014-2339-z

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