Monitoring of toxicity and intermediates of C.I. Direct Black 38 azo dye through decolorization in an anaerobic/aerobic sequential reactor system.

An Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor/Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor was used sequentially to decolorize and mineralize C.I. Direct Black 38 azo dye (3200 mg/L) in a synthetic wastewater containing glucose as co-substrate. At the steady state conditions color was effectively removed under anaerobic condition, while the total aromatic amines and organic fraction could be mainly reduced under aerobic conditions. NO(3)(-)--N, COD, BOD(5,) aromatic amine, HPLC and GC analyses showed that Direct Black 38 could be chiefly mineralized by the sequential system. The toxicity levels were determined using three different test organism (ATA-anaerobic toxicity, respiration/inhibition and Daphnia magna tests) through the continuous operation of anaerobic/aerobic sequential system treating Direct Black 38 dye containing synthetic wastewater. Feed and anaerobic effluent had greater toxicity than the aerobic effluent after mineralization of dye.