Degradation of high-strength acrylic acid wastewater with anaerobic granulation technology: A mini-review

The anaerobic granulation technology has been successfully applied full-scale for treating high-strength recalcitrant acrylic acid wastewater. This mini-review highlighted the recalcitrance of acrylic acid and its biological degradation pathways. And then, the full-scale practices using anaerobic granulation technology for acrylic wastewater treatment were outlined. The granules are proposed to provide barriers for high-concentration acrylic acid to the embedded anaerobic microbes, maintaining its high degradation rate without apparent substrate inhibition. Based on this proposal, the prospects of applying anaerobic granulation technology to handle a wide range of high-strength recalcitrant wastewaters, to improve the current process performances, and to recover renewable resources were delineated. The anaerobic granulation for high-strength recalcitrant wastewater treatment is an emergent technology that can assist in fulfilling the appeals of the circular bioeconomy of modern society.

Automated summary

This mini-review discusses the recalcitrance of acrylic acid and its biological degradation pathways, as well as the full-scale practices using anaerobic granulation technology for treating acrylic acid wastewater. It proposes that the granules can provide barriers for high-concentration acrylic acid, maintaining its high degradation rate without substrate inhibition. The potential of anaerobic granulation technology in handling high-strength recalcitrant wastewaters and improving process performances is highlighted.