The effect of different redox mediators (RM) on colour removal of azo and anthraquinone dyes was investigated with anaerobic granular sludge under mesophilic (30ºC) and thermophilic (55ºC) conditions. Batch experiments revealed that an addition of catalytic concentrations of RM provided a remarkable effect on the decolourisation rates of the azo dye Reactive Red 2 (RR2), but the same effect could not be obtained with the anthraquinone dye Reactive Blue 5 (RB5). Nevertheless, for both dyes, the temperature increase to thermophilic conditions was an effective strategy to considerably accelerate the decolourisation process compared to mesophilic conditions. For instance, the first-order rate constant "k" of RR2 and RB5 reduction, was increased in 6.2 and 11-fold, respectively, at 55ºC in comparison with 30ºC. Such an effect of the temperature on the reductive decolourisation of azo dye was also verified in continuous flow experiments.
Colour removal; redox mediators; granular sludge; mesophilic; hermophilic
