Adsorption–synergic biodegradation of high-concentrated phenolic water by Pseudomonas putida immobilized on activated carbon fiber

• Cells-immobilized ACF could purify the high-concentrated phenolic water directly.
• The whole adsorption–biodegradation process was investigated in detail.
• The regeneration of ACF could be avoided.

The high-concentrated phenolic water (∼10,000 mg/L) was directly treated by the Pseudomonas putida immobilized on the activated carbon fiber (ACF) via adsorption–synergic biodegradation. Compared with granular activated carbon and other adsorbents, ACF had a better adsorption and mechanical property as a fiber material. P. putida was immobilized onto ACF with a load amount of 183 mg/g after acclimatization and the cells-immobilized ACF performed the sequential adsorption–biodegradation process from the phenol concentration of 10,000–0 mg/L within 120 h directly at 30 °C, pH = 7. The whole process based on the cells-immobilized ACF was investigated in detail. The adsorption process played a main role and phenol concentration could be decreased under 2000 mg/L in a short time. Absorption isotherm of ACF was found to be well fitted by Langmuir isotherm model, which indicated that the adsorption process was monolayer adsorption. And then, the biodegradation process started in the subsequent stage and completed the whole process under the synergy of release process. The special adsorption–release performance of ACF made it possible to deal with phenol wastewater (10,000 mg/L) directly under the biodegradation process with P. putida. In addition, the regeneration of ACF could be avoided and the biodegradation technique could be directly used in the treatment of high-concentrated phenol wastewater.

The high-concentrated phenolic water (∼10,000 mg/L) was directly treated by the Pseudomonas putida immobilized on the activated carbon fiber (ACF) via adsorption–synergic biodegradation. And then the adsorption–biodegradation–release process was discussed, which could be divided into two stages. At the first stage, the adsorption process played a main role and phenol concentration could be decreased under 2000 mg/L within a short time. And then, the biodegradation was started in the second stage. Under the synergy of adsorption and release effects in the biodegradation process, high-concentrated phenol solution could be completely biodegraded within 120 h from the initial concentration of 10,000 mg/L. In addition, the regeneration of ACF could be avoided and the biodegradation technique could use in the treatment of high phenol concentration without pre-treatment.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide