Acclimatization of Anaerobic Sludge to Treat Cr (VI) and 4-CP Present in Industrial Effluents and Their Effect on Microbial Communities
Publication: Journal of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste
Volume 19, Issue 4
Abstract
The effectiveness of anaerobic wastewater treatment is limited by pollutants in industrial wastewaters inhibiting microorganisms, leading to digester failure. Acclimatization enables the microorganisms to develop the capacity to degrade them faster, preventing reactor failure. The present study focuses on the acclimatization of anaerobic sludge to treat two pollutants, chromium (VI) and 4-chlorophenol (4-CP), in two separate batch reactors. Microbial community profiles were obtained to find their effects on microbial populations. Both chemical and microbial data indicated inhibition of biogas production. A 50% reduction in methane concentration was observed at 150 ppm of Cr (VI), whereas for 4-CP, it was observed at 200 ppm. Sulfate-reducing bacteria present in the anaerobic sludge helps to remove heavy metals by facilitating the formation of insoluble metal sulfides. The effect of their presence in an anaerobic system containing 150 ppm Cr (VI) was studied by adding 30-mM sodium molybdate, which inhibited the sulfate reducing bacteria.
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Acknowledgments
The authors wish to acknowledge the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for providing financial assistantship.
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Published In
Journal of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste
Volume 19 • Issue 4 • October 2015
Copyright
© 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 4, 2014
Accepted: Mar 3, 2015
Published online: May 14, 2015
Published in print: Oct 1, 2015
Discussion open until: Oct 14, 2015
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