Three strains of filamentous Cyanobacteria were used to study their growth and utilization of organophosphorus pesticide malathion. A sharp decrease in the growth of the algal strains was observed by increasing the concentration of malathion. Amongst them Nostoc muscorum tolerated different concentrations and was recorded as the highest efficient strain for biodegradation (91%) of this compound. Moreover, carbohydrate and protein content of their cells overtopped the other strains especially at higher concentrations. The algal strains were further subjected to grow under P-limitation in absence and presence of malathion. Although, the algal growth under P-limitation recorded a very poor level, a massive enhanced growth and phosphorous content of cells were obtained when the P-limited medium was amended with malathion. This study clarified that N. muscorum with its capability to utilize malathion as a sole phosphorous source is considered as an inexpensive and efficient biotechnology for remediation of organophosphorus pesticide from contaminated wastewater.
http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2014/392682/
Thank you Dr. Lala for the clear summary of interesting work. I have used N muscorum long time ago for N2 fixation, it is really multifunctional microbe. but do you think this is possible for large scale application? Also I will be glad to get some of your publications in similar cases.
I have grown algae in raceway pond for biodiesel purpose. I feel you can try N muscorum for large scale application.
Hello, according to your limited information, for scale-up application, I would choose the process of AOP+ biological treatment. For toxic wastewater, mostly AOP could be as the detoxifying pretreatment to ensure the following biological treatment.
If you plan to build up a pilot plant, I would suggest to go for AOP.
Which type of pesticides production is the wastewater from?
Is there any solvents from the production in the water and if so are they chlorinated?
Dr Henrik, the water seems containing lots of solvents. however, we are trying to do complete analysis at first, then will share it here.
It is important to consider the type of pesticides that is manufactured. Some active substances are easily destroyed e.g. by hydrolysis at high or low pH.
Dr. Bo Lai, thank you for your contribution. you suggesting using the aeration and you saying aeration process will cause air pollution. Can you please make this point clear.
In many cases the solvents are the main source of the COD. It is best to try to biodegrade these before any advanced treatment targeting the pesticides in order to achieve a reasonable treatment cost.
Pesticides are not necessarily inhibiting bio-degradation of other chemicals as their toxicity generally are targeting selectively biochemical functions in higher animals or plants that are irrelevant to bacteria.
Agree with Dr. Andersen. Some preliminary tests must be done to achieve a reasonable process. For example, some chlorinated pesticides can use the combination of anaerobic and aerobic treatment to get excellent efficiency. But for the wastewater of COD >30000 ppm, you have to take care of the concentration inhibition on bacteria. If biodegradation is limited, then AOP could be your another choice.
Also your expected effluent COD would greatly influence the process design, I suggest you could also put this into consideration.
You have to take a little bit different / innovative approach for dealing with this type of wastewater.
A) Try to recycle this water in to the manufacturing process.Process Engineers will resist but this is the least expensive solution
B) Try to sale this as low potency pesticide ( as compared to Powder)
C) If A & B fail then you have a very expensive way of dealing with this waste .No conventional waste treatment includinf advance oxidation can treat this waste effectivly as Chlorinated organics are very hard to degrade added to that the COD levels of 30 K.There is one solution I can think of WAO or Wet Air Oxidation. A high Pressure ( 200- 250 Barg) high Temperature ( 200-300 Deg Cen) that destroyes almost any thig up to 90-99 %). You would still need to polish off the WAO effluent through your conventional Effluent Treatment Plant to take care of residiual pollutants to meet disposal standards of pesticide effluents.This will be a very expensive ansd complex plant hence try for option A or B before option C.
This is based on whatever you have mentioned ,If you can give detaild analysis of the wastewater better soulution can be prposed.But with my experience you have a difficult waste to deal.
By the way what is the quantity m3/h ?
Electro-Fenton works well, we got COD below 1000 and met the requirement. but still the cost issue.
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