Removal of chemicals from effluent using photobioreactor technology to improve environmental and health impacts

Abstract

The treatment of industrial waste water using cyanobacteria in photobioreactor for the removal of sulphide, COD and phenol. The microorganisms were collected from the effluent treatment plant of a petroleum refinery and a biofilm was developed in nutrient medium. The reactor was fed with cyanobacteria. After biofilm formation and acclimatization, the same procedure was followed for 16 days in a rectangular tray type photo bioreactor for the treatment of industrial waste water. From continuous mode of operation, it was found that the phototrophic microorganisms can degrade the pollutants present in industrial waste water. The removal efficiency of hardness 75 %, sulphide 95.8 %, COD 98.7 %, phenol 99.9 % and nitrate 83.7 % was studied. The present works shows that it is feasible to use cyanobacteria in a photo bioreactor for the treatment of industrial waste water.