Biodegradation Performance of an Inner-Loop Three-Phase Fluidized-Bed Bioreactor to Treat Petrochemical Wastewater

In order to remove the petroleum hydrocarbons in petrochemical wastewater, an airlift inner-loop three-phase fluidized-bed (AITF) bioreactor was designed independently, combining the chemical embedding technique to treat petrochemical wastewater continuously. This biological fluidized bed reactor had an excellent antishock ability on the hydraulic loading capacity and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) loading capacity. Moreover, because the microbial biodegradation of petrochemical wastewater was difficult, the reactor also maintained good potential biodegradation capability, and the average COD removal rate was about 87% and average total petroleum hydrocarbons removal rate was about 95% in the steady continuous stage. The volumetric loading capacity of the AITF bioreactor is two to five times of that of traditional activated sludge methods.