Conductive Polyaniline Enhanced Decolorization of Azo Dyes in Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment

Yating Liao1

Ying Wang1

Lingfeng Ouyang1

Yanlan Dong1

Jie Zhou1

Qian Hu1,*,Email

Bin Qiu2,*,Email

Beijing Key Laboratory for Source Control Technology of Water Pollution, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China

College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China

Abstract

The polyaniline (PANI) was synthesized by chemical oxidation and was conductive media to improve the anaerobic sludge to decolorize the azo dye-containing wastewater in this study. The effect of carbon sources, COD concentration and PANI dosage on the decolorization and degradation performance of anaerobic sludge was investigated. The optimized carbon source for decolorization of azo dye by anaerobic sludge was the sucrose in our research. The color removal can be increased by ~20% from the anaerobic system adding with PANI material due to the accelerated degradation of the carbon source by the PANI. Based on the decolorization, the azo dye-containing wastewater treatment could achieve an optimal effect when PANI of 400 mg/L was added in the anaerobic sludge. Finally, the effect of the additional PANI on the microorganism communities in the anaerobic sludge was also investigated.