Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Sequential Anaerobic/Aerobic Treatment of Dye-Containing Wastewaters: Colour and COD Removals, and Ecotoxicity Tests

  • Published:
Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Colour and COD removals of the azo dyes Congo Red (CR) and Reactive Black 5 (RB5) were individually evaluated in a sequential anaerobic/aerobic treatment system. Additionally, dye toxicity was assessed by using acute ecotoxicity tests with Daphnia magna as the indicator-organism. The anaerobic reactor was operated at approximately 27 °C and with hydraulic retention times of 12 and 24 h. The aerobic reactor was operated in batch mode with a total cycle of 24 h. During anaerobic step, high colour removals were obtained, 96.3% for CR (400 mg/L) and 75% for RB5 (200 mg/L). During the aerobic phase, COD effluent was considerably reduced, with an average removal efficiency of 52% for CR and 85% for RB5, which resulted in an overall COD removal of 88% for both dyes. Ecotoxicity tests with CR revealed that the anaerobic effluent presented a higher toxicity compared with the influent, and an aerobic post-treatment was not efficient in reducing toxicity. However, the results with RB5 showed that both anaerobic and aerobic steps could decrease dye toxicity, especially the aerobic phase, which removed completely the toxicity in D. magna. Therefore, the anaerobic/aerobic treatment is not always effective in detoxifying dye-containing wastewaters, sometimes even increasing dye toxicity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. WTO. (2010) International trade statistics. ed. World Trade Organization, Geneva

  2. Cervantes, F. J., & dos Santos, A. B. (2011). Reviews in Environmental Science and Biotechnology, 10, 125–137.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. dos Santos, A. B., Cervantes, F. J., & van Lier, J. B. (2007). Bioresource Technology, 98, 2369–2385.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Forgacs, E., Cserháti, T., & Oros, G. (2004). Environment International, 30, 953–971.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Pandey, A., Singh, P., & Iyengar, L. (2007). International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation, 59, 73–84.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Alinsafi, A., da Motta, M., Le Bonté, S., Pons, M. N., & Benhammou, A. (2006). Dyes Pigm, 69, 31–39.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Kapdan, I. K., & Kargi, F. (2002). Process Biochemistry, 37, 973–981.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Carliell, C. M., Barclay, S. J., Naidoo, N., Buckley, C. A., Mulholland, D. A., & Senior, E. (1994). Water SA, 20, 341–344.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Costa, M. C., Mota, S., Nascimento, R. F., & Dos Santos, A. B. (2010). Bioresource Technology, 101, 105–110.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. van der Zee, F. P., Lettinga, G., & Field, J. A. (2001). Chemosphere, 44, 1169–1176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. van der Zee, F. P., & Villaverde, S. (2005). Water Research, 39, 1425–1440.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Field, J. A., Stams, A. J. M., Kato, M., & Schraa, G. (1995). Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 67, 47–77.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Işik, M., & Sponza, D. T. (2004). Journal of Hazardous Materials, 114, 29–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Işik, M., & Sponza, D. T. (2006). Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 38, 887–892.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Işik, M., & Sponza, D. T. (2008). Separation and Purification Technology, 60, 64–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Libra, J. A., Borchert, M., Vigelahn, L., & Storm, T. (2004). Chemosphere, 56, 167–180.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Lourenço, N. D., Novais, J. M., & Pinheiro, H. M. (2001). Journal of Biotechnology, 89, 163–174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Lourenço, N. D., Novais, J. M., & Pinheiro, H. M. (2003). Environmental Technology, 24, 679–686.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Ong, S.-A., Toorisaka, E., Hirata, M., & Hano, T. (2005). Separation and Purification Technology, 42, 297–302.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Sponza, D. T., & Işik, M. (2002). Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 31, 102–110.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Sponza, D. T., & Işik, M. (2005). Process Biochemistry, 40, 35–44.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Sponza, D. T., & Işik, M. (2005). Process Biochemistry, 40, 2735–2744.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Bae, J.-S., & Freeman, H. S. (2007). Dyes Pigm, 73, 126–132.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Bae, J.-S., & Freeman, H. S. (2007). Dyes Pigm, 73, 81–85.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Meriç, S., Selçuk, H., & Belgiorno, V. (2005). Water Research, 39, 1147–1153.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Villegas-Navarro, A., González, M. C. R., López, E. R., Aguilar, R. D., & Marçal, W. S. (1999). Environment International, 25, 619–624.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Villegas-Navarro, A., Ramírez-M, Y., Salvador-S, B. M. S., & Gallardo, J. M. (2001). Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 48, 56–61.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Franciscon, E., Zille, A., Fantinatti-Garboggini, F., Silva, I. S., Cavaco-Paulo, A., & Durrant, L. R. (2009). Process Biochemistry, 44, 446–452.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Franciscon, E., Zille, A., Guimaro, F. D., de Menezes, C. R., Durrant, L. R., & Cavaco-Paulo, A. (2009). International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation, 63, 280–288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Firmino, P. I. M., Silva, M. E. R., Cervantes, F. J., & dos Santos, A. B. (2010). Bioresource Technology, 101, 7773–7779.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. ABNT. (2004) NBR 12713-Ecotoxicologia aquática-Toxicidade aguda-Método de ensaio com Daphnia ssp. (Crustacea, Cladocera). ed. Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas, Rio de Janeiro

  32. Hao, O. J., Kim, H., & Chiang, P. C. (2000). Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 30, 449–505.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. APHA. (2005). Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater (21st ed.). Washington: American Public Health Association.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Buchauer, K. (1998). Water SA, 24, 49–56.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Diniz, P., Lopes, A., Lino, A., & Serralheiro, M. (2002). Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 97, 147–163.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Behling, E., Diaz, A., Colina, G., Herrera, M., Gutierrez, E., Chacin, E., Fernandez, N., & Forster, C. F. (1997). Bioresource Technology, 61, 239–245.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Işik, M., & Sponza, D. T. (2007). Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 40, 934–939.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Weisburger, J. H. (2002). Mutat. Res./Fundam. Mol Mech Mutag, 506–507, 9–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Pinheiro, H. M., Touraud, E., & Thomas, O. (2004). Dyes Pigm, 61, 121–139.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Tan, N. C. G. and Field, J. A. (2000) In: Lens, P. and Hulshoff Pol, L. W. (eds.) Environmental technologies to treat sulfur pollution. IWA Publishing, London, pp. 373-392

  41. Bafana, A., Chakrabarti, T., Muthal, P., & Kanade, G. (2009). Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 72, 960–964.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Kapdan, I. K., Tekol, M., & Sengul, F. (2003). Process Biochemistry, 38, 1031–1037.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Kapdan, I. K., & Oztekin, R. (2006). Journal of Hazardous Materials, 136, 896–901.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Tan, N. C. G., van Leeuwen, A., van Voorthuizen, E. M., Slenders, P., Prenafeta-Boldú, F. X., Temmink, H., Lettinga, G., & Field, J. A. (2005). Biodegradation, 16, 527–537.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico–CNPq, an organization of the Brazilian Government for the development of Science and Technology, for the Master’s and PhD scholarships and financial support (Process 470310/2007-3 from Edital Universal).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to André Bezerra dos Santos.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

da Silva, M.E.R., Firmino, P.I.M., de Sousa, M.R. et al. Sequential Anaerobic/Aerobic Treatment of Dye-Containing Wastewaters: Colour and COD Removals, and Ecotoxicity Tests. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 166, 1057–1069 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-011-9493-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-011-9493-7

Keywords

Navigation