Evaluation of PCBs biodegradability in sludges by various microbial cultures

Abstract

AbstractThe application of aerobic and anaerobic treatment for removal of PCBs in sludges generated from a groundwater treatment system was investigated. The sludge was characterized by PCB concentrations of > 520 ppm, with Aroclors 1254 and 1260 accounting for 26 and 74%, respectively, as well as total organic carbon (TOC), and oil and grease (O&G) concentrations of 108,500 and 18,600 mg/L, respectively. Four treatments were explored: three aerobic and one anaerobic. Two types of bacterial innocula were aerobically tested: sludge from a poultry processing wastewater treatment plant, and a commercial seed (Petrobio®). Petrobio was tested aerobically with and without a biosurfactant/enzymes product (BOD‐Balance™), and was also tested anaerobically. Over a period of 60 days, PCB concentrations on a volumetric and solids basis were reduced by 73.4 to 88.0% and 64.7 to 80%, respectively. Aroclors 1254 and 1260 concentrations decreased by about 76 to 89%, and 73 to 89%, respectively. TOC and O&G removal efficiencies ranged from 77 to 93%, and from 52 to 86%, respectively.Generally, sludge from the poultry processing facility achieved the best results and exhibited the most rapid biodegradation kinetics. Aerobic PCB biodegradation rates for Aroclors 1254 and 1260 were 13.5% and 23%, respectively, faster than the anaerobic biodegradation rates. Overall PCB biodegradation kinetics conformed to first‐order, with rate constants ranging from 0.017 d−1 under anaerobic conditions to 0.022 d−1 under aerobic conditions, while both TOC and O&G biodegradation kinetics followed first‐order kinetics, with rate coefficients in the ranges of 0.025–0.047 and 0.014 and 0.04 d−1, respectively.