Chemical characterization and anaerobic treatment of bitumen fume condensate using a membrane bioreactor

Bitumen fume condensate (BFC) is a hazardous wastewater generated at asphalt reclamation and production sites. BFC contains a wide variety of potentially toxic organic pollutants that negatively affect anaerobic processes. In this study, we chemically characterized BFC produced at an industrial site and evaluated its degradation under...

Degradation of p-cresol, resorcinol, and phenol in anaerobic membrane bioreactors under saline conditions

Treating petrochemical wastewater is a challenge for conventional anaerobic reactors. One example is coal gasification wastewater that, besides its salinity, is rich in toxic and inhibitory aromatics, such as phenol, cresols, and resorcinol. Studies have shown that phenol and p-cresol share the same degradation intermediates, whereas...

Syntrophic acetate oxidation having a key role in thermophilic phenol conversion in anaerobic membrane bioreactor under saline conditions

Phenol conversion under saline thermophilic anaerobic conditions requires the development and sustenance of a highly specialized microbial community. In the present research, an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) fed with an influent containing 0.5 g·L⁻¹ phenol and 6.5 gNa⁺·L⁻¹ was operated at 55 °C for 300...

Enhancing Phenol Conversion Rates in Saline Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor Using Acetate and Butyrate as Additional Carbon and Energy Sources

Phenolic industrial wastewater, such as those from coal gasification, are considered a challenge for conventional anaerobic wastewater treatment systems because of its extreme characteristics such as presence of recalcitrant compounds, high toxicity, and salinity. However, anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) are considered of potential...

Anaerobic Conversion of Saline Phenol-Containing Wastewater Under Thermophilic Conditions in a Membrane Bioreactor

Closing water loops in chemical industries result in hot and highly saline residual streams, often characterized by high strength and the presence of refractory or toxic compounds. These streams are attractive for anaerobic technologies, provided the chemical compounds are biodegradable. However, under such harsh conditions, effective biomass...