Microbial characterization and degradation of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate in an anaerobic reactor treating wastewater containing soap powder

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 167; pp. 316 - 323
• Main Authors: Carosia, Mariana Fronja, Okada, Dagoberto Yukio, Sakamoto, Isabel Kimiko, Silva, Edson Luiz, Varesche, Maria Bernadete Amâncio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: 16S rRNA; Alkanesulfonic Acids - metabolism; Alkylbenzene; Anaerobic treatment; Anaerobiosis; Applied sciences; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; Bioreactors; Bioreactors - microbiology; Biotechnology; Dechloromonas; Ethyl alcohol; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geobacter; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Microorganisms; Phylogeny; Pollution; Powders; Proteobacteria; Reactors; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; Soaps; Sulfonates; Surfactant; Time Factors; Various methods and equipments; Volatile fatty acids; Waste Disposal, Fluid; Waste water; Waste Water - chemistry; Wastewaters; Water Purification - instrumentation; Water Purification - methods; Water treatment and pollution; Dechloromonas; 16S rRNA; Geobacter; Surfactant; Volatile fatty acids; Soap; Powder; Degradation; Bioreactor; Anaerobe; Ribosomal RNA; Benzenesulfonate(alkyl); Volatile fatty acid; Microorganism; Waste water purification
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.06.002

•The anaerobic degradation of liner alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) was evaluated.•The fluidized bed reactor was operated with a hydraulic retention time of 15h.•LAS degradation was 48% and the VFA increased with its addition.•Dechloromonas sp. and Geobacter sp. were identified in LAS degradation.•The compounds of soap powder affected the LAS removal and volatile fatty acids. The aim of this study was to evaluate the removal of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) in an anaerobic fluidized bed reactor (AFBR) treating wastewater containing soap powder as LAS source. At Stage I, the AFBR was fed with a synthetic substrate containing yeast extract and ethanol as carbon sources, and without LAS; at Stage II, soap powder was added to this synthetic substrate obtaining an LAS concentration of 14±3mgL−1. The compounds of soap powder probably inhibited some groups of microorganisms, increasing the concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA) from 91 to 143mgHAcL−1. Consequently, the LAS removal rate was 48±10% after the 156days of operation. By sequencing, 16S rRNA clones belonging to the phyla Proteobacteria and Synergistetes were identified in the samples taken at the end of the experiment, with a remarkable presence of Dechloromonas sp. and Geobacter sp.