Rehabilitation of a complex industrial wastewater containing heavy metals and organic solvents using low cost permeable bio-barriers – From lab-scale to pilot-scale

This work addresses the treatment of a complex industrial effluent containing high concentrations metals and spiked with two organic solvents (diethylketone – DEK, methyl ethyl ketone - MEK) using an eco-friendly approach. The system herein proposed consists bio-barrier that combines adsorption capacity sepiolite properties Streptococcus equisimilis biofilm proven ability in degradation bioremoval wide range pollutants. Results from open-systems experiments conducted raw exposed to binary mixture DEK MEK revealed preference sorbent towards DEK. results biodegradation also S. degrade/bioremove over independently their initial concentration (100 mg/L 3200 mg/L). Bioremoval percentages higher than 95% were reached for all tested. lab-scale open-system covered biofilm, pilot-scale experiment closed-loop, similar performances on rehabilitation heavy additionally MEK. Regarding selectivity different pollutants, Cu was preferentially removed Cr Ni, presence allowed improvement removal metals, particularly Cr, besides preventing leaching Al, Fe, Mg structure, extremely important advantage comparison without biofilm. EDS analyses performed samples several (Cr, Ni), proving thus occurrence sorption processes by breakthrough data obtained properly described Dose Response Yoon Nelson mathematical models. More research needs be effluents aiming optimization systems applied real context scenarios.