Acclimatization studies for degradation of Acid Red 3BN dye and its treatment in moving bed biofilm reactor

Abstract

Abstract In this study, acclimatization of microorganisms for the degradation of Acid Red 3BN dye bearing water (AR3BNDW) using activated sludge was performed in a cylindrical aerobic reactor. The initial value of chemical oxygen demand (COD), dye, and mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) of activated sludge were evaluated as 870.5, 80.6 and 1200 mg/L The experiments were performed at ambient temperature (25–35 °C) and the stabilization was achieved at 15 d. Maximum reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and color were observed to be 94.2%, and 91% after 15 d of acclimatization. After completion of acclimatization process, degradation of dye was studied in moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR). In the process, 38, 50, 68 and 76% color reduction were achieved with polymer carrier fill ratio (FR) of 40, 50, 60 and 70%, respectively in 24 h. For effluent flow rate of 180, 240, 300 and 360 mL/h, respectively, the dye reductions of 76, 60, 48 and 36% and COD reductions of 72, 58, 46 and 34% were achieved in 24 h