STUDIES ON BIODEGRADATION OF PHENOLIC WASTE WATER USING TUBULAR FLOW REACTOR

Abstract

Phenol is a toxic aromatic compound containing hydroxyl group attached to the benzenoid molecules. Phenolic waste waters are normally generated in such industries as petroleum refineries, petrochemical units, coal washeries, coal carbonization and coke-oven plants. Various physic.o-chemical and biological methods are used in treating phenolic.waste waters depending upon the volume of waste waters and their quality, COD, BOD, and phenol content. Waste waters with high phenol contents are normally treated by adsorptive and biological processes. Recent trends advocate immobilized whole cell process. Immobilized whole cells are good due to their relative resistance to inhibition at higher phenol concentrations and also due to high concentration of cells. Of the various microorganisms, Pseudomonas putida is found to be very good for phenol removal. In the present work we have studied the performance of a tubular reactor packed Pseudomonas putida entrapped in calcium alginate beads theoretically. Theoretical modelling involved the use of inhibition kinetics and non-idealities in the reactor. A mathematical model was developed for immobilized cell tubular flow reactor. Mixed collocation technique have been used for the solution of non-linear differential equation having .split type boundary conditions. Computer program was written in C+ + language. The program facilitates the determination of concentration profile of substrate along the length of the reactor. Detailed analysis of kinetic, operating and mixing effect parameters have also been done.