Application of anoxic fixed film and aerobic CSTR bioreactor in treatment of nanofiltration concentrate of real textile wastewater

An anoxic fixed film bioreactor (FFB) with biomass immobilized on activated carbon and an aerobic continuous stirred tank bioreactor with overflow were applied to degrade concentrate from nanofiltration of real textile effluents containing Reactive Red 120 (RR-120). The efficiency of color removal was 99 % irrespective of the fraction of nanofiltration concentrate in the feed. An approximate dye balance based on the assessed adsorption capacity of RR-120 by activated carbon indicated that the dye was removed by means of adsorption as well as of biological processes. Aromatic amine released from a dye molecule was fully adsorbed by activated carbon. COD level in the outflow of the system was above that imposed by legislation. Despite an adjustment of the feed pH to 7 this was constantly increasing up to the value above 9 in both reactors. Neither the nanofiltration concentrate nor the effluents from the bioreactors affected the growth of Pseudomonas putida used as toxicity indicator.