A continuous two-phase partitioning bioreactor (C-TPPB), operated with coiled tubing made of the DuPont polymer Hytrel 8206, was tested for the bioremediation of 4-chlorophenol, as a model toxic compound. The tubing was immersed in the aqueous phase, with the contaminated water flowing tube-side, and an adapted microbial culture suspended in the bioreactor itself, with the metabolic demand of the cells creating a concentration gradient to cause the substrate to diffuse into the bioreactor for biodegradation. The system was operated over a range of loadings (tubing influent concentration 500-2000 mg L-1), with near-complete substrate removal in all cases. Biological removal was in the range of 87-95%, while the amount retained in the polymer ranged from ~1 to 10%. Mass transfer of the substrate across the tubing wall was not limiting, and the polymer demonstrated the capacity to buffer the increased substrate loadings and to adapt to microbial metabolism.
A novel two-phase partitioning bioreactor operated with polymeric tubing for enhanced treatment of industrial wastewater
MC Tomei;D Mosca Angelucci;
2017
Abstract
A continuous two-phase partitioning bioreactor (C-TPPB), operated with coiled tubing made of the DuPont polymer Hytrel 8206, was tested for the bioremediation of 4-chlorophenol, as a model toxic compound. The tubing was immersed in the aqueous phase, with the contaminated water flowing tube-side, and an adapted microbial culture suspended in the bioreactor itself, with the metabolic demand of the cells creating a concentration gradient to cause the substrate to diffuse into the bioreactor for biodegradation. The system was operated over a range of loadings (tubing influent concentration 500-2000 mg L-1), with near-complete substrate removal in all cases. Biological removal was in the range of 87-95%, while the amount retained in the polymer ranged from ~1 to 10%. Mass transfer of the substrate across the tubing wall was not limiting, and the polymer demonstrated the capacity to buffer the increased substrate loadings and to adapt to microbial metabolism.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
