Biological treatment of biomass gasification wastewater using hydrocarbonoclastic bacterium Rhodococcus opacus in an up-flow packed bed bioreactor with a novel waste-derived nano-biochar based bio-support material

摘要

Wastewater from biomass gasification chiefly contains monocyclic (MAHs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are generated by wet scrubbing process of raw synthetic gas during its cleaning process. These MAHs and PAHs are well-known as toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic agents which need to be removed prior to their release into the environment. The present study evaluated the potential of an up-flow packed bed bioreactor (UFPBBR) with immobilized Rhodococcus opacus onto biochar loaded polyurethane foam (PUF) as the packing material for treating biomass gasification wastewater (BGWW). Initially, the bioreactor was operated utilizing only PUF as the support material and a maximum COD removal of 81 +/- 2.65% was achieved with 1820 mg L-1 of influent COD concentration and 24 h of HRT. Using biochar loaded PUF as the support material; more than 95 +/- 1.27% of COD removal was attained under the same COD loading condition and HRT. Furthermore, the wastewater was detoxified to 96.2% demonstrating the ability of UFPBBR system using the novel biochar based bio-support material for biomass gasification wastewater treatment. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.