Biomineralisation of azo dyes and their breakdown products in anaerobic-aerobic hybrid and UASB reactors

Abstract

Batch toxicity and biodegradability of two azo dyes (Siriusgelb and Siriuslichtbraun) has been investigated. It was found that the former azo dye was significantly less toxic to methanogenic sludge than the latter one (IC50 are equal to 3.55 and 0.41 g COD/l, respectively). Neither of the azo dyes was biodegradable under aerobic conditions but both dyes were readily decolourised and slowly mineralised in anaerobic environments. In order to optimise the treatment strategy, the anaerobic and aerobic phases were combined into one single unit called the anaerobic-aerobic hybrid reactor. The performance of this innovative reactor was tested with a synthetic wastewater containing Siriusgelb and ethanol at 30°C and 56% removal of azo dye COD was achieved at volumetric load of 0.3 g azo dye COD/l/day. The effluent COD content could be attributed to the presence of non-biodegradable autooxidation products of Siriusgelb breakdown intermediates. A continuous biomineralisation of 2-aminobenzoic acid (2-ABA) – intermediate of the anaerobic decomposition of Siriuslichtbraun – was studied in a UASB reactor at 30°C. A high (>90%) removal of 2-ABA was achieved under volumetric loads of 1.5 g 2-ABA COD/l/day. However, a further increase in volumetric load led to a decrease in 2-ABA removal, probably due to low attachment ability of the bacteria responsible for primary decomposition of 2-ABA.