Combined effects of Cu2+ and Zn2+ on activated sludge process

Beyenal N., Ozbelge T., Ozbelge H.

WATER RESEARCH, vol.31, no.4, pp.699-704, 1997 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 31 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 1997
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/s0043-1354(96)00300-4
  • Journal Name: WATER RESEARCH
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.699-704
  • Keywords: activated sludge process, HMs, toxicity, biokinetics, inhibition, zinc, copper, WW, CU(II)
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: No

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the combined effects of Cu2+ and Zn2+ in a synthetic wastewater (WW) on activated sludge process (ASP) over a wide range of mean cell residence times. Experiments were performed in two phases: (i) experiments without heavy metals (HMs), (ii) experiments with HMs using acclimated microorganisms (MOs). In the first phase, biokinetic constants of the synthetic WW inoculated with seed MOs were determined and a linear relationship between substrate removal efficiency and mean cell residence time was found. In the second phase, experiments were conducted with acclimated MOs for processing a WW containing 1.5 mg Cu2+/L and 9 mg Zn2+/L. A variable relationship between substrate removal efficiency and mean cell residence time was obtained. The net result of the presence of Cu2+ and Zn2+ in a synthetic WW was found to be toxic to the MOs in ASP. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.