Volume 1, Issue 3 (2023)                   jaert 2023, 1(3): 25-34 | Back to browse issues page

‎ 10.22034/jaert.1.3.25

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Removal of petroleum hydrocarbons from wastewater using photolysis- moving bed biofilm reactor hybrid system
Mohammad Ghasem Rahimi1 , Bita Ayati * 2, Richard David Webster3
1- Department of Civil Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University
2- Department of Civil Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University , ayati_bi@modares.ac.ir
3- Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University
Abstract:   (103 Views)
In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of both single and hybrid systems, incorporating UV photolysis and a Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR), for treating synthetic wastewater contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. Petroleum hydrocarbons pose significant environmental threats due to their high toxicity, stability, accumulation potential, and resistance to biodegradation. In the hybrid system, the wastewater underwent chemical treatment first and then was introduced into the biological reactor. For the photolysis system, we explored the impacts of different concentrations and various radiation powers of UV-C lamps. Optimal conditions were determined to be a Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) of 350 mg/L and a radiation power of 80 W. In the MBBR system, various concentrations were introduced into the reactor, achieving a maximum removal efficiency of 85% for an initial COD of 1000 mg/L over 72 hours with a 50% filling capacity. In the hybrid system, we achieved a remarkable hydrocarbon removal efficiency of 99% after 123 hours. Although the operational time of the hybrid system was relatively long, it demonstrated itself as a suitable treatment process compared to other conventional methods for removing these challenging, hard-to-biodegrade compounds.
Keywords: UV-Photolysis- Moving Bed, Biofilm Reactor, Petroleum hydrocarbons, TPH-COD model
Full-Text [PDF 608 kb]   (30 Downloads)    
Article Type: Original Research | Subject: Water and wastewater quality and treatment processes
Received: 2023/11/18 | Accepted: 2023/12/18 | Published: 2024/03/4
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