Anaerobic Degradation of Terephthalic Acid and Aniline by Methanogenic Consortia.

Abstract

The biodegradability of eight aromatic compounds; benzyl alcohol, phenol, toluene, terephthalic acid, aniline, benzensulfonic acid, 2, 4, 6-trichlorophenol and m-nitrophenol; was evaluated under methanogenic conditions. Benzyl alcohol and phenol were termed as readily biodegradable aromatic compounds based on the net gas production. Toluene, terephthalic acid, aniline, an benzenesulfonic acid were termed as persistent compounds. 2, 4, 6-trichlorophenol and m-nitrophenol were caused a toxicity response of the methanogenesis. All compounds, which were suggested to be toxicity compounds by the biodegradability test, showed toxicity to aceticlastic methanogens. The anaerobic continuous treatments of synthetic wastewaters with aniline or terephthalic acid as the carbon sources were carried out. Glucose or acetic acid, used as co-substrates, showed stimulatory effect on the degradation of aniline or terephthalic acid. The degradation efficiency of aniline and terephthalic acid were more than 80% and 90%, respectively, in the treatments of synthetic wastewaters with acetic acid and aniline or terephthalic acid at the mole ratio (acetic acid / aniline or terephthalic acid) over 10.0 at a TOC loading rate of 0.5g/l⋅d.