Proceedings

The rapid advances of industrial technology and the development of chemical industries have given rise to a huge consumption of different types of chemicals. Many xenobiotic compounds, that contaminate surface rivers and groundwaters, are difficult to treat by conventional methods.

The SBBR (Sequencing Batch Biofilm Reactor) is a submerged filter that operates in a “fill and draw” mode and could be used for the elimination of xenobiotic compounds. The aim of the present paper was the preliminary study of an up-flow SBBR for remediation of
groundwater contaminated by phenol and 2-CP. The impact of the dilution effect on the elimination rate was studied. An instantaneous
reduction of the COD concentration of about 57%, respect to the influent, was achieved. The progressive organic substance degradation was analyzed at different bed heights of the reactor in the absence of effluent recirculation. The lab scale system showed 95% removal
efficiency of 2-chlorophenol (2-CP) and 97% of phenol. The adsorption phenomena of the toxic compounds on the packing material were studied, showing about 50% COD removal in about 1 day operation.

KEY WORDS
Biomass, chlorophenol, groundwater, SBBR, xenobiotic