Abstract
The aim of this paper is to study the treatment of 4-chlorophenol bearing water by biological treatment in sequencing batch reactor (SBR) without any adsorbent (blank-SBR) and with an SBR loaded with granular activated carbon (GAC–SBR) in instantaneous mode. Adsorbent dose used for GAC–SBR was found to be 16 g/L. It was observed that addition of GAC enhanced the ability of activated sludge in resisting the shock load of organics. React phase duration in blank-SBR and GAC–SBR was found to be 6 and 4 h, respectively. Removal efficiencies of blank-SBR and GAC–SBR at optimum conditions and for initial 4-chlorophenol concentrations of 100, 200, 250, and 500 mg/L were found to be 68.6 and 97%; 46.9 and 96.9%; 23.5 and 96%; and 5 and 95.9%, respectively. Kinetics of treatment process has been studied in both blank-SBR and GAC–SBR. Characterization of the sludge was done using scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy dispersive atomic X-ray (EDAX) analysis. Settling and filterability characteristics of the sludge have also been studied.
Acknowledgment
Authors are thankful to the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India for providing financial assistance for carrying out this research work.