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Biodegradation potential of hydrocarbons in petroleum refinery effluents using a continuous anaerobic-aerobic hybrid system

  • Environmental Engineering
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Abstract

We investigated a novel wastewater treatment method for the remediation of crude oil refinery effluents with large number of recalcitrant organic compounds. The treatment system consists of an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor and an aerobic packed-bed biofilm reactor (PBBR) in combinatory pattern to increase the efficiency of treatment and to remove polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) of the wastewater. The mean chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency in the UASB reactor and PBBR over 118 days of sampling was 68.48% and 38.28%, respectively. The total COD removal efficiency of the system was 81.07%. The GC-MS abundance and area values for each of the substances in the effluent decreased greatly from the corresponding value in the influent. Specifically, the PAHs were totally removed during the treatment process. This study presents a feasible technology for the treatment of refinery effluents.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biotechnology Group, Chemical Engineering Department, Tarbiat Modares University, P. O. Box 14115-143, Tehran, Iran

    Niloofar Nasirpour, Seyyed Mohammad Mousavi & Seyyed Abbas Shojaosadati

Authors
  1. Niloofar Nasirpour
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  2. Seyyed Mohammad Mousavi
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  3. Seyyed Abbas Shojaosadati
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Correspondence to Seyyed Mohammad Mousavi.

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Nasirpour, N., Mousavi, S.M. & Shojaosadati, S.A. Biodegradation potential of hydrocarbons in petroleum refinery effluents using a continuous anaerobic-aerobic hybrid system. Korean J. Chem. Eng. 32, 874–881 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-014-0307-9

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