Abstract
Wastewaters polluted with hydrocarbons are an environmental problem that has a significant impact on the natural ecosystem and on human health. Thus, the aim of this research was to develop a bioreactor sorbent technology for treating these polluted waters. A lab-scale plant composed of three 1-L bioreactors with different sorbent materials inside (meltblown polypropylene and granulated cork) was built. Wastewater to be treated was recirculated through each bioreactor for 7 days. Results showed that hydrocarbon retention rates in the three bioreactors ranged between 92.6% and 94.5% of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) and that after one simple recirculation cycle, no hydrocarbon fractions were detected by gas chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) in the effluent wastewater. In addition, after the wastewater treatment, the sorbent materials were extracted from the bioreactors and deposited in vessels to study the biodegradation of the retained hydrocarbons by the wastewater indigenous microbiota adhered to sorbents during the wastewater treatment. A TPH removal of 41.2% was detected after one month of Pad Sentec™ carrier treatment. Further, the shifts detected in the percentages of some hydrocarbon fractions suggested that biodegradation is at least partially involved in the hydrocarbon removal process. These results proved the efficiency of this technology for the treatment of these hydrocarbon-polluted-waters.
Highlights
The presence of hydrocarbons in waters is extremely common
This study was focused on the development of a new technology for the treatment of industrial wastewater polluted with hydrocarbons based on adsorption biodegradation processes
The microcosm’s assays demonstrated the ability of CorkSorbTM 01025, Pad SentecTM and Barrier SentecTM biosorbent to adhere to indigenous microorganisms from the polluted wastewater to the carriers’ surface, making a stable biofilm [20]
Summary
The presence of hydrocarbons in waters is extremely common. On some occasions, this is due to accidental spills of a greater or lesser extent and on other occasions, this is due to constant leaks from the production, storage or transport areas. Hydrocarbon water pollution is an environmental problem that affects aquatic ecosystems and species, as well as their by-products. This type of pollution, which has a significant impact on human health and the environment, attracts considerable interest and is a cause for concern among the scientific community and at the social and political level [4]. In order to maintain water quality, the search for cost-effective decontamination and cleaning techniques is needed
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