Ethylene glycol (EG) is the major constituent of long life coolant (antifreeze). EG has a relatively low toxicity, but affects aquatic systems because of its high biochemical oxygen demand. Thus, it is necessary to treat EG contaminated waste water. The present study was aimed at developing a treatment system for biodegradation of EG contaminated waste water.
EG degrading bacteria (U-TCH011) was isolated from a soil sample. The U-TCH011 was capable of degrading 100% of the EG contaminated waste water (initial EG: 3,000 mg/l ) within a day. We have developed a treatment system of batch process using the U-TCH011 immobilized in polyvinyl alcohol. By using the system, COD in waste water containing EG was degraded to less than 120 mg/l (initial COD: 3,000 mg/l ).
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