Removal of triethylamine from synthetic wastewater by acclimated mixed bacteria cultures

This aim of this study was to remove triethylamine by a biological method, as well as to understand the ability of mixed bacteria cultures to treat a triethylamine compound from synthetic wastewater. The mixed bacteria cultures could not remove triethylamine, whether the activated sludge came from an acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene resin manufactured wastewater treatment system or a waterborne polyurethane resin manufactured wastewater treatment system. When the mixed bacteria cultures were acclimated to triethylamine, they could utilize 650 mg l−1 triethylamine for growth. When the initial triethylamine concentration was below 200 mg l−1, the triethylamine removal efficiency could reach 100%. The triethylamine removal rate of the acclimated GMIX sludge was faster than the acclimated EMIX sludge.