Continuous treatment of azo acid dyes by photo-dependent denitrifying sludge

Simultaneous removals of dye and nitrate by photo dependent denitrifying sludge(PDDS) have been demonstrated in a continuous flow bench scale reactor. The best C/N for the degradation of azo dyes by PDDS was 1.5. The specific removal rate of azo dye AB92 decreased with a decrease in hydraulic retention time and increased with a decrease in solids retention time. The degradation rate of TOC decreased with a decrease in hydraulic retention time. AB92, which has nitro and hydroxyl substitutions in non para positions, was uniquely degraded. During continuous flow treatment experiments using PDDS, complete degradation of azo dyes AB92 and AO20 at influent concentrations of 40 mg/L and 30 mg/L, respectively, was achieved with an HRT of 16.