Removal of polyacrylate in aqueous solution by activated sludge: Characteristics and mechanisms

The aim of this study is to evaluate the removal potential of polyacrylate in aqueous solution by activated sludge. Batch experiments investigated the effects of contact time, pH value, temperature, and concentration of adsorbate on polyacrylate removal by activated sludge to evaluate the isotherms, kinetics, thermodynamics, and mechanisms. The materials were characterized by N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The experimental results indicate that more than 90% of polyacrylate was removed by activated sludge in a short time. The adsorption capacity increase with the increase in initial polyacrylate concentration and temperature. Increasing pH value resulted in a decrease in adsorption capacity. The adsorption process fitted well to Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models. Thermodynamic parameters indicate that the adsorption of polyacrylate onto activated sludge was feasible, spontaneous, and endothermic. The results of kinetics, thermodynamics, SEM-EDS, and FT-IR showed that surface binding, hydrophobic interaction, and hydrogen bond force may play a major role in the removal process. Microbial community structure analysis by 16S rRNA gene revealed that short-term exposure with polyacrylate had a little negative impact on the activated sludge microorganisms. A better understanding of polyacrylate adsorption onto activated sludge is essential for improving predictions of the fate and transport of polyacrylate in waste water treatment process.