Inhibition effects of pentachlorophenol (PCP) on anaerobic digestion system

Abstract Pentachlorophenol (PCP), a kind of ionizable hydrophobic organic contaminant, had been extensively used in agricultural, industrial, and domestic applications as an important component of fungicides, bactericides, herbicides, insecticides, biocides, and wood preservatives, To investigate the effects of pentachlorophenol (PCP) on anaerobic digestion system, an experimental study was carried out in which simulated PCP-contaminated sewage water was treated using a batch reactor. The study revealed that the influences of PCP on acidogenic and methanogenic microorganisms. Affected by PCP, the fermentation type of system was transformed from butyric acid type to propionic acid type.Moreover, biogas production rate and methane content were less. PCP inhibited the activity of methane bacteria significantly: during the series of PCP addition (PCP concentration was 0, 14.9, 19.1, and 29.5 mg/L, respectively), the higher the PCP concentration was, the more serious the inhibition effect was. The removal rate...