open access publication

Article, 2024

Integrated biological system for remediation and valorization of tannery wastewater: Focus on microbial communities responsible for methanogenesis and sulfidogenesis

Bioresource Technology, ISSN 0960-8524, 1873-2976, Volume 395, Page 130411, 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.130411

Contributors

Welz, Pamela Jean 0000-0002-4825-4080 (Corresponding author) [1] De Jonge, Nadieh 0000-0003-0891-0837 [2] Lilly, Mariska 0000-0002-3983-6230 [1] Kaira, Walusungu M 0000-0002-0146-2616 [1] Mpofu, Ashton Busani [1]

Affiliations

  1. [1] Cape Peninsula University of Technology
    2. [NORA names: South Africa; Africa];
  2. [2] Aalborg University
    3. [NORA names: AAU Aalborg University; University; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD]

Abstract

Microbial communities in hybrid linear flow channel reactors and anaerobic sequencing batch reactors operated in series for remediation and beneficiation of tannery wastewater were assessed. Despite concurrent sulfidogenesis, more intensive pre-treatment in hybrid linear flow channel reactors reduced methanogenic inhibition usually associated with anaerobic digestion of tannery effluent and promoted efficiency (max 321 mLCH4/gCODconsumed, 59% biogas CH4). Nitrification and biological sulfate reduction were key metabolic pathways involved in overall and sulfate reducing bacterial community selection, respectively, during pre-treatment. Taxonomic selection could be explained by the proteinaceous and saline character of tannery effluent, with dominant genera being protein and/or amino acid degrading, halotolerant and/or ammonia tolerant. Complete oxidizers dominated the sulfidogenic populations during pre-treatment, while aceticlastic genera dominated the methanogenic populations during anaerobic digestion. With more intensive pre-treatment, the system shows promise for remediation and recovery of biogas and sulfur from tannery wastewater in support of a bio-circular economy.

Keywords

acid degradation, amino, amino acid degradation, ammonia, anaerobic digestion, anaerobic sequencing batch reactor, associated with anaerobic digestion, batch reactor, beneficiation, bio-circular economy, biogas, biological sulfate reduction, biological systems, channel reactor, characters, community, community selection, complete oxidation, degradation, digestion, dominant genera, economy, efficiency, effluent, flow channel reactor, focus, genera, genus, hybrid, hybrid linear flow channel reactor, inhibition, intensive pre-treatment, linear flow channel reactor, metabolic pathways, methanogenesis, methanogenic inhibition, methanogenic populations, microbial communities, nitrification, oxidation, pathway, population, pre-treatment, promote efficiency, protein, reactor, recovery, recovery of biogas, reduction, remediation, saline, saline character, selection, sequencing batch reactor, sulfate, sulfate reduction, sulfidogenesis, sulfur, system, tannery, tannery effluent, tannery wastewater, taxonomic selectivity, valorization, wastewater

Funders

  • Water Research Commission

Data Provider: Digital Science

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