EFFECT OF MOLASSES ADDITION AS BIODEGRADABLE MATERIAL ON PHENOL REMOVAL UNDER ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS
Abstract
The link between the concentration of biodegradable organic matter and the rate of phenol removal in anaerobic conditions was examined in this work. This study was undertaken using a laboratory scale anaerobic stabilization pond and five closed reactors at two retention times, 2 and 5 days. The initial concentration of phenol and soluble COD decreased in the anaerobic pond effluent and the reactors with increasing hydraulic retention time; 98.6 % phenol removal was observed in reactors after 50 days and in the presence of 1000 mg/L COD, while 98.8 % removal was obtained after 5 days in the anaerobic stabilization pond system in the presence of 500 mg/L COD. Two-way ANOVA test with Scheffe post-hoc confirmed that phenol removal was optimal for 1000-2000 mg/L biodegradable COD and 50 days retention time in the reactors and with 500 mg/L biodegradable COD and 5 days retention time in the anaerobic pond.