[Research on sludge toxicity caused by DMF biodegradation and toxicity spatial distribution in sludge flocs]

The aerobic sequencing batch activated sludge system (SBR) was used to remove the toxic and refractory organic pollutant, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). The formation property and spatial distribution of the organic toxicity in sludge were studied. The operation parameters were controlled as follows: influent COD was about 300 mg x L(-1), every DMF concentration phase lasted 30 d(40 mg x L(-1), 80 mg x L(-1), 120 mg x L(-1)), the SBR cycle lasted 12 h, and DO was 2.0-3.0 mg x L(-1). The results showed that the sludge toxicity increased in the beginning and then decreased to a steady range at each DMF concentration phase; there was a positive correlation between the sludge toxicity and the initial DMF concentration; most of the sludge organic toxicity was caused by DMF biodegradation and existed in the inner extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and intracellular section of sludge flocs.