Integrating the Fenton's Process with Biofiltration by Corbicula fluminea to Reduce Chemical Oxygen Demand of Winery Effluents

Pipolo, Marco; Martins, Rui C.; Quinta‐Ferreira, Rosa M.; Costa, Raquel

Integrating the Fenton's Process with Biofiltration by Corbicula fluminea to Reduce Chemical Oxygen Demand of Winery Effluents

2017

Pipolo, Marco | Martins, Rui C. | Quinta‐Ferreira, Rosa M. | Costa, Raquel

The discharge of poorly decontaminated winery wastewater remains a serious environmental problem in many regions, and the industry is welcoming improved treatment methods. Here, an innovative decontamination approach integrating Fenton's process with biofiltration by Asian clams is proposed. The potential of this approach was assessed at the pilot scale using real effluent and by taking an actual industrial treatment system as a benchmark. Fenton peroxidation was observed to remove 84% of the effluent's chemical oxygen demand (COD), reducing it to 205 mg L⁻¹. Subsequent biofiltration decreased the effluent's COD to approximately zero, well below the legal discharge limit of 150 mg L⁻¹, in just 3 d. The reduction of the effluent's organic load through Fenton's process did not decrease its toxicity toward Vibrio fischeri, but the effluent was much less harmful after biofiltration. The performance of the treatment proposed exceeded that of the integrated Fenton's process‐sequencing batch reactor design implemented in the winery practice, where a residence time of around 10 d in the biological step typically results in 80 to 90% of COD removal. The method proposed is effective and compatible with typical winery budgets and potentially contributes to the management of a nuisance species. CORE IDEAS: Fentons’ reaction/biofiltration by Asian clams was assessed for winery effluent treatment. Method studied at the pilot scale, using real effluent and an industrial benchmark. Realistic Fenton's conditions removed 84% COD but with no major impact on toxicity. Biofiltration led COD to approximately zero with significant toxicity decrease in just 3 d. Polishing in the biofilters was more efficient than current practice.

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