Upflow anaerobic filter for the degradation of adsorbable organic halides (AOX) from bleach composite wastewater of pulp and paper industry

The removal of AOX from bleach plant effluent of pulp and paper industry was studied using upflow anaerobic filter. In this paper biodegradation of AOX at different concentrations and effect of electron donors like acetate and glucose thereon in an upflow anaerobic filter at 20 d HRT is described. Results showed significant improvement in AOX degradation when electron donors such as acetate and glucose were supplemented to the influent. AOX degradation was 88% at 28 mg AOX L−1 and 28% at 42 mg AOX L−1. The percent degradation efficiency was enhanced to 90.7, 90.2, and 93.0 at 28 mg AOX L−1 when the influent was supplemented with glucose, acetate and both glucose and acetate, respectively. Similarly, the efficiency was 57, 56.6 and 79.6 at 42 mg AOX L−1 when the influent was supplemented with glucose, acetate and both glucose and acetate, respectively. The GC–MS analysis data indicated that supplementation of the influent with electron donor increased the biodegradability of number of chlorinated organic compounds.