Cometabolic degradation of toluene and TCE contaminated wastewater in a bench-scale sequencing batch reactor inoculated with immobilized Pseudomonas putida F1

Abstract

Toluene and Trichloroethylene (TCE) are two of the most common organic contaminates at hazardous sites and contaminated water. In this study, a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) inoculated with PVA/alginate-immobilized Pseudomonas putida F1 was used for biological treatment of toluene and TCE contaminated wastewater. Moreover, a mathematical model was developed to simulate the dynamic behavior of a SBR treating competitive contaminates. Results showed high removal efficiencies of both toluene and TCE in the effluents. For the duration of filling time, an instantaneous fill was the optimum for moderate amount of toluene and TCE. Toluene concentration affected TCE degradation. The lower the toluene presence, the higher the removal efficiency of both toluene and TCE. Interestingly, the presence of 20 mg/L iron, or 1 mg/L nickel stimulated the degradation rates of both toluene and TCE. However, the degradation rate was reduced when both 20 mg/L iron and 1 mg/L nickel were presented simultaneously. The model developed in this research was able to simulate the kinetic behaviors of toluene and TCE removal in the SBR successfully. (C) 2019 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.