Enhanced Biodegradation of Formaldehyde Using Aerobic Sequencing Batch Rotating Bed Bioreactor With and Without Stimulation by Hydrogen Peroxide

The removal of formaldehyde as a toxic substance from aqueous solutions is of particular importance. In this research, a sequencing batch rotating-bed bioreactor (SBRB) was used on a laboratory scale for biodegradation of formaldehyde from synthetic wastewater. The reactor was made of plexiglas with a cylindrical shape. Kaldnes media were placed in a rotating cylindrical basket in the reactor. The effects of formaldehyde concentration (500–1500 mg/L), hydraulic retention time (HRT) (8, 15, 24 hours), and injection of hydrogen peroxide (0.1-0.5 mM) on the performance of the reactor were investigated. The results showed that in the SBRB, at an HRT of 24 hours and an inlet formaldehyde concentration of 1000 mg/L, the removal efficiencies of formaldehyde and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were 99.2% and 92%, respectively, while without rotating the bed, the removal efficiency of formaldehyde and COD was found to be 95% and 83%, respectively. By adding hydrogen peroxide at a concentration of 0.3 mM and operation of the SBRB with an HRT of 8 hours and an inlet formaldehyde concentration of 1000 mg/L, an improvement in the removal efficiency of formaldehyde and COD (4% and 22%, respectively) was observed. Accordingly, SBRB stimulation with hydrogen peroxide could be considered as a high-performance process for the removal of formaldehyde and corresponding COD at a short HRT.