(2019) Journal of Environmental Management_Increased biodegradability of low-grade coal wastewater in anaerobic membrane bioreactor by adding yeast wastes

Yun Y.-M., Kim M., Kim H., Kim D.-H., Kwon E.E., Kang S.

(Academic Press) Journal of Environmental Management ISSN: 3014797 Vol.234 Issue. Article No. DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.12.083

Demineralization is required in upgrading low-grade coal to serve as an alternative energy resource for the production of fuel and valuable chemicals but generates a large amount of low-grade coal wastewater (LCWW). The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a co-substrate on an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) treating LCWW. CH4 was not produced during the operation fed by LCWW alone. When yeast wastes (YW) were supplemented, there was a gradual increase in the biodegradability of LCWW, achieving 182 CH₄ mL/g COD with 58% COD removal efficiency. The analysis of physicochemical characteristics in the effluent of AnMBR, done by excitation-emission matrix (EEM) and size exclusion chromatography (SEC), showed that the proportion of soluble microbial products (SMPs) and aromatic group with high-molecular weight (>1 kDa) increased. Microbial analysis revealed that the increased dominance of bacteria Comamonas, Methanococcus, and Methanosarcina facilitated biodegradation of LCWW in the presence of YW. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support of National Research Foundation under “Next Generation Carbon Upcycling Project” (Project No. 2017M1A2A2042517) of the Ministry of Science and ICT, Republic of Korea. The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support of National Research Foundation under “Next Generation Carbon Upcycling Project” (Project No. 2017M1A2A2042517 ) of the Ministry of Science and ICT , Republic of Korea.