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Enhanced Oil Recovery using a Combination of Biosurfactants

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Non-ionic surfactant biodegradation in lab-scale activated sludge.

Ma D Coello¹, C A Aragon, R Rodriguez-Barroso

¹Department of Environmental Technology, Faculty of Sea and Environmental Sciences, University of Cádiz, Campus Rio San Pedro s/n, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain. dolores.coello@uca.es

Environmental Technology

|January 22, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Microbial activity remained stable with 5 mg/L nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEO) but was inhibited at 10 mg/L, indicating a concentration-dependent biodegradation effect.

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Area of Science:

Environmental Science
Microbiology
Chemical Engineering

Background:

Non-ionic surfactants, such as nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEO), are widely used but can pose environmental challenges.
Understanding the biodegradation pathways and microbial responses to these compounds is crucial for wastewater treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

To assess the impact of nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEO) on microbial activity in activated sludge systems.
To evaluate the biodegradation of NPEO at different concentrations.

Main Methods:

Utilized two laboratory-activated sludge reactors fed with synthetic sewage.
Introduced nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEO) at 5 mg/L and 10 mg/L to one reactor.
Monitored chemical oxygen demand (COD), suspended solids (SS), specific oxygen uptake rate (SOUR), and dehydrogenase activity.
Analyzed NPEO removal and metabolite production using solid-phase extraction and HPLC with fluorescence detection.

Main Results:

Microbial activity, measured by SOUR and dehydrogenase activity, was not inhibited at 5 mg/L NPEO.
A significant inhibition of general microbial metabolism was observed at 10 mg/L NPEO.
NPEO removal and secondary metabolite production were monitored throughout the experiment.

Conclusions:

Activated sludge systems can biodegrade nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEO) at lower concentrations (5 mg/L) without significant microbial inhibition.
Higher concentrations of NPEO (10 mg/L) can negatively impact microbial metabolism in activated sludge.
Further research is needed to optimize treatment processes for NPEO-containing wastewater.