Biosorption of LMW PAHs on activated sludge aerobic granules under varying BOD loading rate conditions

Abstract Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons belong to the main priority substances for the aquatic environment. One of the emission sources of these compounds to environment is wastewater discharged from conventional wastewater treatment systems, which are not designed to cope with this type of pollution. Thus, due to the widely discussed properties of aerobic granular activated sludge in the literature – a conducted study has proven its ability to remove LMW PAHs (naphthalene (Nap), acenaphthylene (Acy), acenaphthene (Ace), fluorene (Flu), phenanthrene (Phe) and anthracene (Ant)) from wastewater by biosorption process at varying loadings of organic compounds expressed as BOD (kg/kg·d) on the activated sludge mass. The maximum biosorption of Nap was 605 µg/kgd.m., Acy equals to 134 µg/kgd.m., Ace equals to 355 µg/kgd.m. Flu equals to 104 µg/kgd.m. Phe equal to 204 µg/kgd.m. and Ant equal to 173 µg/kgd.m. The study showed that the BOD loading rate is one of the factors affecting the biosorption process of LMW PAHs. However, as the amount of adsorbed LMW PAHs increased, the condition of aerobic granular activated sludge deteriorated, which was evidenced by gradual increase in the values of technological parameters of activated sludge (SVI, HRT, SRT) and a smaller increase in activated sludge dry mass.