Bioprocess development for removal of nitrogenous compounds from precious metal refinery wastewater
- Manipura, Walappuly Mudiyanselage Janakasiri Aruna Shantha Bandara
- Authors: Manipura, Walappuly Mudiyanselage Janakasiri Aruna Shantha Bandara
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Factory and trade waste Centralized industrial waste treatment facilities Metals -- Absorption and adsorption Metals -- Environmental aspects Water -- Purification -- Mathematical models Water quality management Water reuse Metals -- Refining Microbiology -- Research
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4076 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007341
- Description: Removal of nitrogenous compounds from precious metal refinery (PMR) wastewater is important in terms of avoiding eutrophication (environmental protection), metal recovery (increased overall process efficiency and value recovery) and reuse of treated water (maximum use of natural resources). Extreme pH conditions (4 to 13 depending on the wastewater stream), high chemical oxygen demand (> 10,000 mg/I), numerous metals and high concentrations of those metals (> 20 mg/l of platinum group metals) in the wastewater are the main challenges for biological removal of nitrogenous compounds from PMR wastewater. Nitrogenous compounds such as NH₄⁺-N and N0₃-N are strong metal ligands, which make it difficult to recover metals from the wastewater. Therefore, a bioprocess was developed for removal of nitrogenous compounds from carefully simulated PMR wastewater. A preliminary investigation of metal wastewater was carried out to determine its composition and physico-chemical properties, the ability to nitrify and denitrify under different pH conditions and denitrification with different carbon Source compounds and amounts. Even at pH 4, nitrification could be carried out. A suitable hydraulic retention time was found to be 72 hours. There was no significant difference between sodium acetate and sodium lactate as carbon sources for denitrification. Based on these results, a reactor comparison study was carried out using simulated PMR wastewater in three types of reactors: continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR), packed-bed reactor (PBR) and airlift suspension reactor (ALSR). These reactors were fed with 30 mg/l of Rh bound in an NH₄⁺ based compound (Claus salt: pentaaminechlororhodium (III) dichloride). Total nitrogen removal efficiencies of > 68 % , > 79 % and > 45 % were obtained in the CSTR, PBR and ALSR, respectively. Serially connected CSTR-PBR and PBR-CSTR reactor configurations were then studied to determine the best configuration for maximum removal of nitrogenous compounds from the wastewater. The PBR-CSTR configuration gave consistent biomass retention and automatic pH control in the CSTR. Ammonium removal efficiencies > 95 % were achieved in both reactors. As poor nitrate removal was observed a toxicity study was carried out using respirometry and the half saturation inhibition coefficients for Pt, Pd, Rh and Ru were found to be 15.81, 25.00, 33.34 and 39.25 mg/l, respectively. A mathematical model was developed to describe the nitrogen removal in PMR wastewater using activated sludge model number 1 (ASMl), two step nitrification and metal toxicity. An operational protocol was developed based on the literature review, experimental work and simulation results. The optimum reactor configuration under the set conditions (20 mg/I of Rh and < 100 mg/I of NH₄⁺-N) was found to be PBR-CSTR-PBR process, which achieved overall NH₄⁺-N and N0₃⁻-N removal efficiencies of > 90 % and 95 %, respectively. Finally, a rudimentary microbial characterisation was carried out on subsamples from the CSTR and PBRsecondary. It was found that the CSTR biomass consisted of both rods and cocci while PBRsecondary consisted of rods only. Based on these experimental works, further research needs and recommendations were made for optimisation of the developed bioprocess for removal of nitrogenous compounds from PMR wastewater.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Manipura, Walappuly Mudiyanselage Janakasiri Aruna Shantha Bandara
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Factory and trade waste Centralized industrial waste treatment facilities Metals -- Absorption and adsorption Metals -- Environmental aspects Water -- Purification -- Mathematical models Water quality management Water reuse Metals -- Refining Microbiology -- Research
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4076 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007341
- Description: Removal of nitrogenous compounds from precious metal refinery (PMR) wastewater is important in terms of avoiding eutrophication (environmental protection), metal recovery (increased overall process efficiency and value recovery) and reuse of treated water (maximum use of natural resources). Extreme pH conditions (4 to 13 depending on the wastewater stream), high chemical oxygen demand (> 10,000 mg/I), numerous metals and high concentrations of those metals (> 20 mg/l of platinum group metals) in the wastewater are the main challenges for biological removal of nitrogenous compounds from PMR wastewater. Nitrogenous compounds such as NH₄⁺-N and N0₃-N are strong metal ligands, which make it difficult to recover metals from the wastewater. Therefore, a bioprocess was developed for removal of nitrogenous compounds from carefully simulated PMR wastewater. A preliminary investigation of metal wastewater was carried out to determine its composition and physico-chemical properties, the ability to nitrify and denitrify under different pH conditions and denitrification with different carbon Source compounds and amounts. Even at pH 4, nitrification could be carried out. A suitable hydraulic retention time was found to be 72 hours. There was no significant difference between sodium acetate and sodium lactate as carbon sources for denitrification. Based on these results, a reactor comparison study was carried out using simulated PMR wastewater in three types of reactors: continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR), packed-bed reactor (PBR) and airlift suspension reactor (ALSR). These reactors were fed with 30 mg/l of Rh bound in an NH₄⁺ based compound (Claus salt: pentaaminechlororhodium (III) dichloride). Total nitrogen removal efficiencies of > 68 % , > 79 % and > 45 % were obtained in the CSTR, PBR and ALSR, respectively. Serially connected CSTR-PBR and PBR-CSTR reactor configurations were then studied to determine the best configuration for maximum removal of nitrogenous compounds from the wastewater. The PBR-CSTR configuration gave consistent biomass retention and automatic pH control in the CSTR. Ammonium removal efficiencies > 95 % were achieved in both reactors. As poor nitrate removal was observed a toxicity study was carried out using respirometry and the half saturation inhibition coefficients for Pt, Pd, Rh and Ru were found to be 15.81, 25.00, 33.34 and 39.25 mg/l, respectively. A mathematical model was developed to describe the nitrogen removal in PMR wastewater using activated sludge model number 1 (ASMl), two step nitrification and metal toxicity. An operational protocol was developed based on the literature review, experimental work and simulation results. The optimum reactor configuration under the set conditions (20 mg/I of Rh and < 100 mg/I of NH₄⁺-N) was found to be PBR-CSTR-PBR process, which achieved overall NH₄⁺-N and N0₃⁻-N removal efficiencies of > 90 % and 95 %, respectively. Finally, a rudimentary microbial characterisation was carried out on subsamples from the CSTR and PBRsecondary. It was found that the CSTR biomass consisted of both rods and cocci while PBRsecondary consisted of rods only. Based on these experimental works, further research needs and recommendations were made for optimisation of the developed bioprocess for removal of nitrogenous compounds from PMR wastewater.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Fungal remediation of winery and distillery wastewaters using Trametes pubescens MB 89 and the enhanced production of a high-value enzyme therein
- Authors: Strong, Peter James
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Fungal remediation Distilleries -- Waste disposal Wine and wine making -- Waste disposal Bioremediation Laccase Enzymes -- Biotechnology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3932 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003991
- Description: In this study white-rot fungi were investigated for their efficiency at distillery wastewater remediation and the production of laccase as a valuable by-product. Distillery wastewaters are high in organic load and low in pH. The presence of phenolic compounds can lead to extremely colour-rich wastewaters and can be toxic to microorganisms. The presence of the inorganic ions may also affect biological treatment. White-rot fungi are unique among eukaryotic or prokaryotic microbes in possessing powerful oxidative enzyme systems that can degrade lignin to carbon dioxide. These ligninolytic enzymes, such as lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase and laccase, are capable of degrading a vast range of toxic, recalcitrant environmental pollutants and this makes the white-rot fungi strong candidates for the bioremediation of polluted soils and waters. The laccase enzyme alone has shown remediation potential in wastewaters such as beer production effluent, olive mill wastewater, alcohol distillery wastes, dye-containing wastewaters from the textile industry as well as wastewaters from the paper and pulp industry. It has been shown to be capable of remediating soils and waters polluted with chlorinated phenolic compounds, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, nitrosubstituted compounds and fungicides, herbicides and insecticides.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Strong, Peter James
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Fungal remediation Distilleries -- Waste disposal Wine and wine making -- Waste disposal Bioremediation Laccase Enzymes -- Biotechnology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3932 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003991
- Description: In this study white-rot fungi were investigated for their efficiency at distillery wastewater remediation and the production of laccase as a valuable by-product. Distillery wastewaters are high in organic load and low in pH. The presence of phenolic compounds can lead to extremely colour-rich wastewaters and can be toxic to microorganisms. The presence of the inorganic ions may also affect biological treatment. White-rot fungi are unique among eukaryotic or prokaryotic microbes in possessing powerful oxidative enzyme systems that can degrade lignin to carbon dioxide. These ligninolytic enzymes, such as lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase and laccase, are capable of degrading a vast range of toxic, recalcitrant environmental pollutants and this makes the white-rot fungi strong candidates for the bioremediation of polluted soils and waters. The laccase enzyme alone has shown remediation potential in wastewaters such as beer production effluent, olive mill wastewater, alcohol distillery wastes, dye-containing wastewaters from the textile industry as well as wastewaters from the paper and pulp industry. It has been shown to be capable of remediating soils and waters polluted with chlorinated phenolic compounds, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, nitrosubstituted compounds and fungicides, herbicides and insecticides.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
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