Degradation of Low-Molecular-Weight PAHs: Naphthalene, Acenaphthylene, Phenanthrene, and Fluorene
Publication: Journal of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste
Volume 21, Issue 4
Abstract
Organic compounds with at least two fused benzene rings are known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These compounds are hydrophobic in nature. The toxicity exhibited by some of the PAHs has prompted many researchers to probe more in this area. The literature cites the existence of different physical, chemical, and biological techniques for the removal of PAHs. Different kinds of biological processes like algal, fungal, and bacterial remediation methods were used by different researchers for the degradation of PAHs. The literature states the presence of PAHs in the treated effluent and sludge of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This study explored the feasibility of biodegradation of PAHs through extended aeration in batch reactors. This study focused on the impact of extended aeration on low-molecular-weight PAHs (naphthalene, acenapthylene, phenanthrene, and fluorene). It was found that during the aerobic degradation extending to 28 h, the degradation of selected PAHs was 81–96%. In the case of control reactors, the degradation was found to be 90–99%.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge Indian Institute of Technology Delhi for giving the platform for this work. The authors would like to acknowledge Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India, for providing financial support. The authors would also like to thank Dr. Ajay Kumar, system analyst in Advanced Instrumentation Research Facility (AIRF) in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, India, for assisting in GC/MS sample analysis.
References
Abd-Elsalam, H. E., Hafez, E. E., Hussain, A. A., Ali, A. G., and El-Hanafy, A. A. (2009).“Isolation and identification of three-ring polyaromatic hydrocarbons (anthracene and phenanthrene) degrading bacteria.” Am.-Eurasian J. Agric. Environ. Sci., 5(1), 31–38.
Cai, Q.-Y., Mo, C.-H., Wu, Q.-T., Zeng, Q.-Y., Katsoyiannis, A., and Férard, J.-F. (2007). “Bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)-contaminated sewage sludge by different composting processes.” J. Hazard. Mater., 142(1), 535–542.
Cajthaml, T., Erbanova, P., Sasek, V., and Moeder, M. (2006). “Breakdown products on metabolic pathway of degradation of benz[a]anthracene by a ligninolytic fungus.” Chemosphere, 64(4), 560–564.
Christensen, N., Batstone, D. J., He, Z., Angelidaki, I., and Schmidt, J. E. (2004). “Removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from sewage sludge by anaerobic degradation water.” Water Sci. Technol., 50(9), 237–244.
Doong, R. A., and Lei, W. G. (2003). “Solubilization and mineralization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by Pseudomonas putida in the presence of surfactant.” J. Hazard. Mater., 96(1), 15–27.
Fatone, F., Fabio, S. D., Bolzonella, D., and Cecchi, F. (2011). “Fate of aromatic hydrocarbons in Italian municipal wastewater systems: An overview of wastewater treatment using conventional activated-sludge processes (CASP) and membrane bioreactors (MBRs).” Water Res., 45(1), 93–104.
Gonzalez, D., et al. (2012). “Wastewater polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons removal by membrane bioreactor.” Desalin. Water Treat., 42(1–3), 94–99.
Hesham, A. E.-L., Khan, S., Tao, Y., Li, D., Zhang, Y., and Yang, M. (2012). “Biodegradation of high molecular weight PAHs using isolated yeast mixture: Application of meta-genomic methods for community structure analyses.” Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res., 19(8), 3568–3578.
Jiries, A., Husain, H., and Lintelmann, J. (2000). “Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in wastewater, sediment, sludge and plants in Karak Province, Jordan.” Water Air Soil Pollut., 121(1–4), 217–228.
Kirso, U., and Irha, N. (1998). “Role of algae in fate of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the aquatic environment.” Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf., 41(1), 83–89.
Kirso, U. E., Stom, D. I., Belykh, L. I., and Irha, N. I. (1988). Transformation of carcinogenic and toxic substances in the hydrosphere, U. Kirso, ed., Valgus, Tallinn, Estonia (in Russian).
Krupadam, R. J., Khan, S. M., and Wate, S. R. (2010). “Removal of probable human carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from contaminated water using molecularly imprinted polymer.” Water Res., 44(3), 681–688.
Kubsad, V., Gupta, S. K., and Chaudhary, S. (2005). “Treatment of petrochemical wastewater by rotatory biological contactor.” Environ. Technol., 26(12), 1317–1326.
Maiti, A., Das, S., and Bhattacharyya, N. (2012). “Bioremediation of high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by Bacillus thuringiensis strain NA2.” J. Sci., 1(4), 72–75.
Min, Y., XingWang, Z., and LeCheng, L. (2012). “Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the centralized wastewater treatment plant of a chemical industry zone: Removal, mass balance and source analysis.” Sci. China Chem., 55(3), 416–425.
Moretti, C. J., and Neufeld, R. D. (1989). “PAH partitioning mechanisms with activated sludge.” Water Res., 23(1), 93–102.
Najafi, M., and Kashi, G. (2012). “Removal of poly aromatic hydrocarbons and total petroleum hydrocarbon by using of bio-enzyme: A batch study.” J. Med. Bioeng., 1(1), 42–47.
Nasirpour, N., Mousavi, S. M., and Shojaosadati, S. A. (2015). “Biodegradation potential of hydrocarbons in petroleum refinery effluents using a continuous anaerobic-aerobic hybrid system.” Korean J. Chem. Eng., 32(5), 874–881.
Niu, J., Dia, Y., Guo, H., Xi, J., and Zhenyao, S. (2013). “Adsorption and transformation of PAHs from water by a laccase-loading spider-type reactor.” J. Hazard. Mater., 248–249, 254–260.
Ogbonna, D. N., Ideriah, T. J. K., and Nwachukwu, M. I. (2012). “Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by associated microbes from abattoir wastes in the Niger Delta, Nigeria.” J. Microbiol. Res., 2(6), 157–169.
Othman, N., Hussain, N., and Abdul-Talib, S. (2010). “Degradation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons by pure strain isolated from municipal sludge: Synergistic and cometabolism phenomenon.” Int. Conf. on Environment 2010, Penang, Malaysia.
Parviz, S., Abbas, S. S., and Hossein, C. A. (2006). “Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by aerobic mixed bacterial culture isolated from hydrocarbon polluted soils.” Iran. J. Chem. Chem. Eng., 25(3), 73–78.
Perez, S., Farre, M., Garcia, M. J., and Barcelo, D. (2001a). “Occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sewage sludge and their contribution to its toxicity in the ToxAlert 100 bioassay.” Chemosphere, 45(6), 705–712.
Perez, S., Guillamon, M., and Bracelo, D. (2001b). “Quantitative analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants.” J. Chromatogr. A, 938(1), 57–65.
Qi, W., Liu, H., Pernet-Coudrier, B., and Qu, J. (2013). “Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in wastewater, WWTPs effluents and in the recipient waters of Beijing, China.” Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res., 20(6), 4254–4260.
Semple, K. T., Cain, R. B., and Schmidt, S. (1999). “Biodegradation of aromatic compounds by microalgae.” FEMS Microbiol. Lett., 170(2), 291–300.
Seo, J.-S., Keum, Y.-S., and Li, Q.-S. (2009). “Bacterial degradation of aromatic compounds.” Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 6(1), 278–309.
Sharma, N. K., Philip, L., and Bhallamudi, S. M. (2012). “Aerobic degradation of phenolics and aromatic hydrocarbons in presence of cyanide.” Bioresource Technol., 121, 263–273.
Simko, P., Simon, P., and Khunova, V. (1999). “Removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from water by migration into polyethylene.” Food Chem., 64(2), 157–161.
Smol, M., and Wlodarczyk-Makula, M. (2012). “Effectiveness in the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from industrial wastewater by ultrafiltration technique.” Arch. Environ. Prot., 38(4), 49–58.
Southworth, G. R. (1979). “Transport and transformations of anthracene in natural waters.” Aquatic Toxicology: Proc., 2nd Annual Symp. on Aquatic Toxicology, L. L. Marking and R. A. Kimerle, eds., ASTM, Philadelphia.
Ukiwe, L. N., Egereonu, U. U., Njoku, P. C., Nwoko, C. I. A., and Allinor, J. I. (2013). “Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons degradation techniques: A review.” Int. J. Chem., 5(4), 43.
Warshawsky, D., et al. (1995). “Biotransformation of benzo(a)pyrene and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heterocyclic analogs by several green algae and other algal species under gold and white light.” Chem.-Biol. Interact., 97(2), 131–148.
Wlodarczyk-Makula, M. (2005). “The loads of PAHs in wastewater and sewage sludge of municipal treatment plant.” Polycyclic Aromat. Compd., 25(2), 183–194.
Wlodarczyk-Makula, M. W., Sulkowski, W., Popenda, A., and Robertson, L. W. (2003). “The influence of sewage sludge treatment processes on concentration of PAH.” Fresenius Environ. Bull., 12, 338–342.
Xia, X. H., Yu, H., Yang, Z. F., and Huang, G. H. (2006). “Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the natural waters of the Yellow River: Effects of high sediment content on biodegradation.” Chemosphere, 65(3), 457–466.
Zeledón-Toruño, Z., Lao-Luque, C., Heras, F., and Sole-Sardans, M. (2007). “Removal of PAHs from water using an immature coal (leonardite).” Chemosphere, 67(3), 505–512.
Zhang, W., et al. (2013). “Identification and removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in wastewater treatment processes from coke production plants.” Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res., 20(9), 6418–6432.
Zheng, X.-J., Blais, J.-F., Mercier, G., Bergeron, M., and Drogui, P. (2007). “PAH removal from spiked municipal wastewater sewage sludge using biological, chemical and electrochemical treatments.” Chemosphere, 68(6), 1143–1152.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste
Volume 21 • Issue 4 • October 2017
Copyright
©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 18, 2016
Accepted: Dec 14, 2016
Published online: Apr 7, 2017
Discussion open until: Sep 7, 2017
Published in print: Oct 1, 2017
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.