Investigation of Anaerobic Removal and Degradation of Organic Chlorine from Kraft Bleaching Wastewaters

A study of anaerobic removal of adsorbable organic halide (AOX) from kraft bleaching wastes has been conducted, using bottle bioassay techniques. The anaerobic cultures were fed either acetate or hydrogen and were able to remove from 40 to 65% of the AOX. The removal mechanism and the role of an adapted anaerobic consortium has been investigated with results indicating some biological removal, but significant amounts of sorption or degradation that does not seem to require microbial activity. Significant inhibition of methanogenic activity has also been found in some of the tests.