Biological Algorithms for Textile Wastewater Management

ABSTRACT

Textile industry effluents are extremely variable in composition and constitute an environmental risk of major concern. In order to improve and raise the knowledge with regard to sustainable wastewater management was initiated research project entitled “Bioremediation Technologies for Detoxication of Water and Sediments, Polluted by Texile Industry”. Part of our study was focused on the development and application of algorithms for evaluation the capacity of biological systems to deal with target comtaminants (azo dyes). Promising bioremediation strategy for minimizing the risks related to the high concentrations of azo dyes was performed. Different approaches (amendments with redox-mediator or nutrients) aimed at stimulating microbial activity and enhancement of biological azo dye reduction were applied during the laboratory investigation of real AS, newly isolated bacterial culture and river sediment (collected downstream of a textile effluent discharge area). During the course of the study monoazo compound Amaranth or diazo compound Acid Black 1 (AB1) was used as model azo dyes; anthraquinone-2-sulfunate (AQS), as redox-mediator; peptone and yeast extract, as nutrients. High efficiency of the redox-mediated process was proved in all investigated biosystems. The application of biostimulators, such as peptone and yeast extract resulted in changes in the ecophysiological characteristics of the community and higher metabolic activity of the sediment.

Keywords:

• textile wastewaters
• biological decolorization
• activated sludge
• river sediment
• biostimulation