Low-cost production of PAHs removal systems

Abstract

The use of immobilized biomass for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) removal from a liquid phase is a very promising technology. For this technology to be economically viable, the biomass production and immobilization should be as cheap as possible. The aim of this work was to produce low-cost PAHs removal systems, which consisted in immobilized biomass on different supports. A co-culture formed by two PAH-degrading bacteria (Pseudomonas monteilii P26 and Gordonia sp. H19, autochthonous Patagonian strains) was used. Industrial by-products such as sugar cane molasses, corn steep liquor, whey permeate and crude glycerol were used in combination to formulate different low-cost growth media. Naphthalene, phenanthrene and pyrene removal was evaluated using immobilized bacteria in polyurethane foam cubes, in sand and in calcium alginate beads. P. monteilii P26 and Gordonia sp. H19 growth was satisfactory in different media assayed. 1% corn steep liquor-2% molasses culture medium was selected for biomass production for subsequent immobilization. PAHs removal in different immobilization systems could be attributed to both the supports and the bacteria (up to 88.9% pyrene removal in 12 days). Thus, a first approach towards the development of a low-cost technology that could be used for both bioremediation and biotreatment processes is proposed.