Evaluation of Different Strategies for Removal of BTEX in Anaerobic Conditions

Os compostos benzeno, tolueno, etilbenzeno e os xilenos (BTEX) sÃo os hidrocarbonetos monoaromÃticos que agregam maior risco ao meio ambiente, principalmente devido Ãs caracterÃsticas tÃxicas e carcinogÃnicas. Dentre os mÃtodos usualmente aplicados na remoÃÃo de BTEX em Ãguas contaminadas, o tratamento anaerÃbio tem merecido destaque principalmente em relaÃÃo aos baixos custos. Nesse sentido, buscou-se avaliar diferentes estratÃgias de remoÃÃo de BTEX em condiÃÃes anaerÃbias. Foram realizados ensaios em fluxo contÃnuo em trÃs biorreatores anaerÃbios que foram alimentados com soluÃÃo sintÃtica de BTEX (~ 3 mg.L-1 de cada composto) solubilizados em etanol e operados a 27ÂC. As concentraÃÃes dos BTEX foram determinadas por cromatografia. No biorreator metanogÃnico foram analisadas as seguintes influÃncias: 1) do tempo de detenÃÃo hidrÃulico (TDH) (48 h, 36 h e 24 h); 2) da carga orgÃnica volumÃtrica; 3) da recirculaÃÃo do efluente; 4) e do sistema microaerÃbio. O reator sulfetogÃnico foi operado com um TDH de 48 h e foram testados diferentes razÃes DQO/SO4-2 de aproximadamente 12, 5, 2,5 e estequiomÃtrica- com diferentes cargas orgÃnicas. O reator desnitrificante foi operado tambÃm com um TDH de 48 h nas razÃes DQO/NO3- de aproximadamente 12 e 5. Os reatores avaliados mostraram-se bastante estÃveis durante todas as fases do experimento. Com relaÃÃo à remoÃÃo de BTEX, de uma forma geral, as menores eficiÃncias de remoÃÃo foram encontradas para o benzeno, independente do tipo de aceptor final de elÃtrons, indicando a difÃcil biodegradaÃÃo desse composto sob condiÃÃes anaerÃbias, enquanto que as maiores eficiÃncias foram observadas para os xilenos e o tolueno, chegando a remoÃÃes de atà 90%. Tais valores levam em conta possÃveis interferÃncias de adsorÃÃo e de volatilizaÃÃo. TambÃm foi notado que deve haver uma sinergia entre os distintos compostos, podendo esta exercer um forte efeito sobre as eficiÃncias de remoÃÃo dos BTEX. Comparando-se os trÃs reatores, notou-se que nÃo houve melhora significativa nas eficiÃncias de remoÃÃo dos compostos na presenÃa de nitrato ou sulfato. O reator biolÃgico metanogÃnico forneceu elevadas eficiÃncias na remoÃÃo de DQO, superiores a 80% em mÃdia, para as fases que as concentraÃÃes de substrato estavam altas, produzindo biogÃs (predominantemente na forma de gÃs metano), nÃo acumulando Ãcidos graxos volÃteis, e com alcalinidade suficiente para tamponar o meio em pH neutro. A fase que obteve os melhores resultados de remoÃÃo de BTEX (cerca de 94%) foi a que tinha um sistema microaerÃbio adicionado ao reator metanogÃnico, com eficiÃncias de remoÃÃo de DQO superiores a 85%.The compounds benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX) are monoaromatic hydrocarbons compounds which represent a high risk for the environment, mainly due to their toxic and carcinogenic characteristics. Among the methods usually applied for the removal of BTEX from contaminated waters, anaerobic treatment has drawn attention especially because of its low cost. Accordingly, anaerobic biodegradation of BTEX was assessed under methanogenic, denitrifying and sulfidogenic conditions. Assays were performed in three bitstream anaerobic bioreactors that were fed with a synthetic solution of BTEX (~ 3 mg.L-1 of each compound) solubilized in ethanol and operated at 27ÂC. The concentrations of BTEX were determined by chromatography. In methanogenic bioreactor were analyzed the following influences: 1) the The hydraulic retention time (HRT) (48 h, 36 h and 24 h), 2) the shock loading, 3) the effluent recycling , 4) and microaerobic system. The sulfidogenic reactor was operated with a HRT of 48 h with different DQO/SO4-2 ratios of approximately 12, 5, 2.5, and stoichiometric with different organic fillers. The denitrifying reactor was also operated with a HRT of 48 h in the rations DQO/NO3-1 of approximately 12 and 5. The reactors evaluated were quite stable during all phases of the experiment. About BTEX removal, in general, benzene showed the lower removal efficiencies, regardless of the electron acceptor, indicating the difficulty of biodegradation of this compound under anaerobic conditions. The highest removal efficiencies were observed for toluene and xylenes, reaching up to 90% removal. These values take into account possible interferences of adsorption and volatilization. It was also noted that there should be a synergy between the different compounds that could have a strong effect on the removal efficiencies of BTEX. Comparing the three reactors, it was noted that there was significant improvement in the removal efficiency of the compounds in the presence of nitrate or sulfate. The methanogenic reactor showed high COD removal efficiencies higher than 80% on average for the phases with a high substrate concentration, producing biogas (mainly in the form of methane) not accumulating volatile fatty acids, and with enough alkalinity to buffer the medium at neutral pH. The phase that achieved the best results BTEX removal (about 94%) was the one that had a microaerobic system added to methanogenic reactor, with COD removal efficiencies exceeding 85%