Estimating the integrated degradation rates of woody debris at the scale of a Mediterranean coastal catchment

Examination of individual degradation paths (biodegradation and photolysis) of butyltin compounds (especially tributyltin: TBT) in natural waters was performed. Biodegradation of TBT and dibutyltin (DBT) in an unfiltered sea water in summer is rather fast; their half life is about a week. But pretreatment with glass fiber filter makes the half life of TBT much longer (about 80 days). Photolysis of TBT in sea water by sun light is rapid (half life is about 0.5 days), and faster than in distilled water or in fresh water. Degradation rates of each process for TBT are calculated in various conditions of sea water, and contribution rates are compared. Biodegradation will be the main degradation process in an “SS-rich” area such as a marina, but photolysis will exceed that in a “clean” area. Over all half lives of TBT in sea water vary from 6 days to 127 days considering seasons and presence of SS.

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Biodegradation rates of aromatic contaminants in biofilm reactors

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1995.0027 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 117-128 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Jean-Pierre Arcangeli ◽

Erik Arvin

Keyword(s):

Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Competitive Inhibition ◽

Removal Rate ◽

First Order ◽

Biofilm Reactors ◽

First Order Kinetics ◽

Reducing Conditions ◽

Low Concentrations ◽

Degradation Rates ◽

Order Surface

This study has shown that microorganisms can adapt to degrade mixtures of aromatic pollutants at relatively high rates in the μg/l concentration range. The biodegradation rates of the following compounds were investigated in biofilm systems: aromatic hydrocarbons, phenol, methylphenols, chlorophenols, nitrophenol, chlorobenzenes and aromatic nitrogen-, sulphur- or oxygen-containing heterocyclic compounds (NSO-compounds). Furthermore, a comparison with degradation rates observed for easily degradable organics is also presented. At concentrations below 20-100 μg/l the degradation of the aromatic compounds was typically controlled by first order kinetics. The first-order surface removal rate constants were surprisingly similar, ranging from 2 to 4 m/d. It appears that NSO-compounds inhibit the degradation of aromatic hydrocarbons, even at very low concentrations of NSO-compounds. Under nitrate-reducing conditions, toluene was easily biodegraded. The xylenes and ethylbenzene were degraded cometabolically if toluene was used as a primary carbon source; their removal was influenced by competitive inhibition with toluene. These interaction phenomena are discussed in this paper and a kinetic model taking into account cometabolism and competitive inhibition is proposed.

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Anaerobic Thermophilic (55°C) Treatment of TMP Whitewater in Reactors Based on Biomass Attachment and Entrapment

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1999.0696 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 40 (11-12) ◽

pp. 67-75 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Sigrun J. Jahren ◽

Jukka A. Rintala ◽

Hallvard Ødegaard

Keyword(s):

Granular Sludge ◽

Biofilm Reactor ◽

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket ◽

Hybrid Reactor ◽

Anaerobic Sludge ◽

Loading Rates ◽

Anaerobic Reactors ◽

Multi Stage ◽

Degradation Rates ◽

Thermomechanical Pulping

Thermomechanical pulping (TMP) whitewater was treated in thermophilic (55°C) anaerobic laboratory-scale reactors using three different reactor configurations. In all reactors up to 70% COD removals were achieved. The anaerobic hybrid reactor, composed of an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) and a filter, gave degradation rates up to 10 kg COD/m3d at loading rates of 15 kg COD/m3d and hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 3.1 hours. The anaerobic multi-stage reactor, consisting of three compartments, each packed with granular sludge and carrier elements, gave degradation rates up to 9 kg COD/m3d at loading rates of 15-16 kg COD/m3d, and HRT down to 2.6 hours. Clogging and short circuiting eventually became a problem in the multi-stage reactor, probably caused by too high packing of the carriers. The anaerobic moving bed biofilm reactor performed similar to the other reactors at loading rates below 1.4 kg COD/m3d, which was the highest loading rate applied. The use of carriers in the anaerobic reactors allowed short HRT with good treatment efficiencies for TMP whitewater.

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Biotreatability test of bleach wastewaters from pulp and paper mills

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1997.0492 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 35 (2-3) ◽

pp. 101-108

Author(s):

X. Wang ◽

T. H. Mize ◽

F. M. Saunders ◽

S. A. Baker

Keyword(s):

Wastewater Treatment ◽

Pulp And Paper ◽

Reductive Dehalogenation ◽

Continuous Reactor ◽

Batch Reactors ◽

Aerobic Treatment ◽

Pulp And Paper Mills ◽

Paper Mills ◽

Degradation Rates ◽

Adsorbable Organic Halide

Research is focused on an integrated way to simultaneously optimize the bleaching operations and subsequent wastewater treatment for pulp and paper mills. Bleach wastewaters from ClO2-bleached pulping studies at Institute of Paper Science and Technology (IPST) were used as the feed for batch reactors to test and rank the treatability and kinetics. The key aspect of the system is the use of sequential anaerobic/aerobic phases to enhance reductive dehalogenation of chloro-organic materials. Two continuous reactor systems, one operated in an anaerobic-aerobic mode and a second in an aerobic-aerobic mode, received bleaching wastewater obtained from a full-scale plant. Acclimated cultures from both continuous reactors were used to quantify the AOX (Adsorbable Organic Halide) and COD removal from various bleaching wastewaters. In general, the sequential anaerobic/aerobic treatment of bleach wastewater can improve both biotreatability and degradation rates.

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