Abstract
This study investigated the fate of nano-CeO 2 during municipal wastewater treatment using a laboratory-scale activated sludge (A/S) system fed with primarily-treated municipal wastewater and nano-CeO 2 (55.0mg Ce/L). Nano-CeO 2 was highly removed during A/S treatment (96.6% total Ce). Extensive removal of CeO 2 <200nm was also attained and the concentration escaping treatment was only 0.11mg Ce/L. Elimination occurred mainly by aggregation and settling of CeO 2 particles, promoted by circumneutral pH values and by nanoparticle interactions with organic and/or inorganic wastewater constituents. Biosorption also contributed to CeO 2 removal as shown by sludge analysis and batch adsorption studies. Batch bioassays demonstrated that nano-CeO 2 only exerted inhibition of O 2 uptake by A/S at concentrations exceeding those in the bioreactor feed (50% inhibition at 950mg CeO 2/L). These findings indicate that A/S treatment is expected to provide extensive removal of nano-CeO 2 in municipal wastewaters.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 300-304 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Bioresource Technology |
| Volume | 108 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 2012 |
Keywords
- Aerobic inhibition
- Aerobic wastewater treatment
- Biosorption
- Nanoparticle removal
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Bioengineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Waste Management and Disposal