EFFECT OF PLANT-BASED FILTRATION AND BIOTREATMENT ON TOXICITY OF BIO-OIL PROCESS WATER

This study evaluated physical and biological treatments of bio-oil process water to decrease organic contaminants. A three-sequential-column filtration system compared four treatments: three columns filled with kenaf only; three columns filled with wood shavings only; one column filled with wood shavings and two with kenaf; and one column filled with kenaf and two with wood shavings. The kenaf and wood shavings were composted after filtration. The filtrate water underwent further biotreatment by adding aeration and selected bacteria. After filtration and biotreatment, oil and grease concentrations were decreased more than 80% and toxicity decreased more than 90%. There were no significant differences among filtration treatments. Most of the oil and grease was removed by the first column. Aeration significantly decreased the concentration of oil and grease and toxicity in the filtrate water. Composting of the biofiltration matrices significantly decreased the oil and grease concentrations at Day 45 by 80%.