Effects of Cu2+ on biological process of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in electroplating industrial park. Issue 59 (19th December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wen, Qinxue; Wang, Qiong; Chen, Zhiqiang; Li, Xinqi; Tian, Yu
• Is Part Of: Desalination and water treatment. Volume 57:Issue 59(2016)
• Page Start: 28715
• Page End: 28723
• Publication Date: 2016-12-19
• Subjects: Electroplating wastewater -- Copper -- Inhibition concentration -- Sludge activity -- Extracellular polymers substance (EPS); Saline water conversion -- Periodicals; Saline water conversion; Water -- Purification; Periodicals; 628.167
• DOI: 10.1080/19443994.2016.1195289
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1944-3994

Abstract

Abstract: The construction of industrial clusters in China increases the possibility of treating heavy metals containing wastewater by biological treatment process. Those heavy metals which entered wastewater treatment systems will have a toxic impact on the bacteria. The effects of 0–10 mg L −1 Cu 2+ on the performance of an anoxic/oxic—membrane bioreactor (A/O-MBR) process, which simulated the wastewater treatment process in a local surface processing industrial park, in treating electroplating mixed wastewater were investigated in this research. Under the experimental conditions (simulated the real influent scenario), COD removal efficiency and nitrification efficiency of the process were obviously inhibited by 5 and 3 mg L −1 Cu 2+, respectively, while were severely inhibited by 10 and 5 mg L −1 Cu 2+, respectively. Above 1 mg L −1 of Cu 2+ would put negative effects on the activities of both autotrophic and heterotrophic bacteria, moreover, autotrophic bacteria were more sensitive to Cu 2+ than heterotrophic bacteria. The synthesis of the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) can be stimulated by 1 mg L −1 Cu 2+ while inhibited at higher concentrations. The quantity of EPS was in direct proportion to that of proteins in the experiment indicated that proteins in EPS played a major role in protecting cells from the harm of heavy metals.