Effect of sludge age on performance of an activated sludge unit treating 2,4 dichlorophenol-containing synthetic wastewater

Wastewaters containing chlorophenol compounds are difficult to treat by biological means because of toxic effects of chlorophenols on microorganisms. Synthetic wastewater containing 2,4 dichlorophenol (DCP) was biologically treated in an activated sludge unit at different sludge ages varying between 5 and 30 days while the feed COD, DCP contents and hydraulic residence time (HRT) were constant. Effects of sludge age on COD, DCP and toxicity removals were investigated. Increases in sludge age caused significant increases in biomass concentration in the aeration tank, which resulted in increases in percent COD, DCP and toxicity removals. COD removal increased from 58 to 90%, while DCP and toxicity removals increased from 15 to 100% and from 38 to 100%, respectively, when the sludge age was raised from 5 to 30 days. Resazurin method based on dehydrogenase activity was used for assessment of the feed and effluent wastewater toxicity. Sludge volume index (SVI) decreased with increasing sludge age indicating improved settling characteristics of the sludge at high sludge ages. Operation at a sludge age of 25 days resulted in more than 90% COD and nearly 100% DCP and toxicity removal with an SVI value of 108 ml g−1 under the experimental conditions tested.