Biodegradability, toxicity, and photochemical treatment of a textile surfactant

Babuna F. F., TURKER C., CABUK M. O., Hanci T. O.

DESALINATION AND WATER TREATMENT, vol.57, no.54, pp.26286-26293, 2016 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 57 Issue: 54
  • Publication Date: 2016
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/19443994.2016.1159995
  • Journal Name: DESALINATION AND WATER TREATMENT
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.26286-26293
  • Istanbul Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This study investigates the biodegradability, ecotoxicity, and photochemical treatment of a segregated textile bath discharge carrying a commonly applied nonionic surfactant. The wastewater having a total COD of 1,085mg/L is completely soluble in nature. The COD distribution of this wastewater at different molecular size cut-off levels shows a fluctuating nature. Around 40% of the COD originates from a molecular weight cut-off range less than 30kDa fraction. The wastewater is observed to contain an initially inert soluble COD of about 20mg/L and the residual COD level achieved after passing it from aerobic biological treatment is only 40mg/L indicating high biodegradability. After 120min of UV-C application similar TOC removal efficiencies of 35 and 42% are obtained at pH 4 and pH 7, respectively. Photochemical treatment does not yield significant TOC removals at pH 11. The raw discharge is highly inhibitory toward Vibrio fischeri. 60min of UV-C application lowered ecotoxicity toward V. fischeri.