Phenol degradation and chemical oxygen demand analysis of coir retting wastewater using anaerobic treatment

Aim: The objective of this study degradation of phenol, COD using anaerobic treatment by treating coir retting wastewater and biogas production. Methodology: Sludge from sewage treatment plant was collected from Anna University, Chennai, India. The retting pond wastewater was collected from Coir Industries, Kadayanallur. A laboratory scale cylindrical shaped anaerobic reactor made of glass was used in this study. The total volume of the reactor was 10 litre and the reactor mainly consisted of a cylindrical column of 7 litre capacity (working volume). The anaerobic reactor was fed with 6 litre of sludge and 1.5 litre of coir retting wastewater. The gas produced in the reactor was measured using a gas flow meter. Results: The retting pond wastewater was treated by lab scale anaerobic reactor. The anaerobic treatment was carried out continuously for 15 days. Parameters such as pH, TSS, TS, MLSS, COD and phenols were analyzed regularly during these evaluations of the reactor performance. The concentration of phenol, TS, TSS and COD decreased gradually with time removal percentage of 76%, 96%, 91% and 96% respectively. About 96% of total COD wastewater could be converted into biogas. Interpretation: The results indicate that anaerobic treatment has several advantages in the treatment of retting pond wastewater and also in the production of biogas.