Anaerobic toxicity assays and biochemical methane potential studies we
re performed on three waste streams (acrylic acid, ethylene oxide and
total wastes) from a petrochemical facility. The acrylic waste contain
ed high concentrations (>350 mg l(-1) of acetic acid, acrylic acid, fo
rmaldehyde and benzaldehyde and low concentrations (<100 mg l(-1)) of
allyl alcohol and acrolein. The oxide waste contained high concentrati
ons (>950 mg l(-1)) of ethylene glycol, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde
and low concentrations (<50 mg l(-1)) of other compounds. The total wa
ste was the combination of all waste streams generated at the plant. U
nacclimated anaerobic glucose-acetate enrichment culture and a culture
acclimated to the acrylic waste were used. The oxide waste with total
organic carbon (TOC) concentrations of about 1400 mg l(-1) was found
to be readily degradable even without an acclimation period. The total
waste showed no inhibition to the unacclimated glucose-acetate cultur
e at a TOC concentration of about 250 mg l(-1); however, the culture w
as inhibited at a TOC concentration of about 450 mg l(-1). The acrylic
waste caused inhibition at a TOC concentration of 269 mg l(-1) in the
unacclimated culture. An acclimated culture degraded a TOC concentrat
ion of 223 mg l(-1) of the acrylic acid stream but was inhibited by a
concentration of 643 mg l(-1). A reduced acrylic waste load with a sig
nificant portion of the acetic acid removed was degradable at a TOC co
ncentration of 138 mg l(-1). (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.