Treatment of leather industry wastewater by aerobic biological and Fenton oxidation process

Degradation of leather industry wastewater by sole aerobic treatment incorporating Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, Fenton's reagents, and combined treatment was investigated in this study. The sole treatment by Fenton's oxidation involving the introduction of 6 g FeSO4 and 266 g H2O2 in a liter of wastewater at pH of 3.5 and 30 °C for 30 min at batch conditions reduced COD, BOD5, sulfide, total chromium and color up to 69%, 72%, 88%, 5%, 100% and T. ferrooxidans alone showed maximum reduction to an extent of 77, 80, 85, 52, 89, respectively, in 21 d treatment at pH 2.5, FeSO4 16 g/L and temperature of 30 °C. The combined treatment at batch conditions involving 30 min chemical treatment by Fenton's oxidation followed by 72 h biochemical treatment by T. ferrooxidans at batch conditions gave rise up to 93%, 98%, 72%, 62% and 100% removal efficiencies of COD, BOD, sulfide, chromium and color at pH of 2.5 and 30 °C. Decrease in photo absorption of the Fenton's reagent treated samples, as compared to the banks, at 280, 350 and 470 nm wave lengths was observed. This may be the key factor for stimulating the biodegradation by T. ferrooxidans.