Biosorption of LMW PAHs on activated sludge aerobic granules under varying BOD loading rate conditions

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons belong to the main priority substances for the aquatic environment. One of the emission sources of these compounds to environment is wastewater discharged from conventional wastewater treatment systems, which are not designed to cope with this type of pollution. Thus, due to the widely discussed properties of aerobic granular activated sludge in the literature - a conducted study has proven its ability to remove LMW PAHs (naphthalene (Nap), acenaphthylene (Acy), acenaphthene (Ace), fluorene (Flu), phenanthrene (Phe) and anthracene (Ant)) from wastewater by biosorption process at varying loadings of organic compounds expressed as BOD (kg/kgd) on the activated sludge mass. The maximum biosorption of Nap was 605 mu g/kgd.m., Acy equals to 134 mu g/kgd.m., Ace equals to 355 mu g/kgd.m. Flu equals to 104 mu g/kgd.m. Phe equal to 204 mu g/kgd.m. and Ant equal to 173 mu g/kgd.m. The study showed that the BOD loading rate is one of the factors affecting the biosorption process of LMW PAHs. However, as the amount of adsorbed LMW PAHs increased, the condition of aerobic granular activated sludge deteriorated, which was evidenced by gradual increase in the values of technological parameters of activated sludge (SVI, HRT, SRT) and a smaller increase in activated sludge dry mass.

Automated summary

The study demonstrated the ability of aerobic granular activated sludge to remove LMW PAHs from wastewater through biosorption process, with the amount of adsorbed LMW PAHs affecting the condition of the sludge.