Debromination of 2,4,6-tribromophenol coupled with biodegradation

The application effect of aluminium and their alloys and mixtures with nickel was studied for the complete hydrodebromination of 2,4,6-tribromophenol (TBP) to phenol in aqueous NaOH solution at room temperature. It was found that the Raney Al-Ni alloy can rapidly transform TBP to phenol. Removal efficiency of 25 mM TBP solution in aqueous NaOH (15 g L-1) solution at the end of 1h reaction was 100% using 4 g L-1 Al-Ni. The hydrodebromination is accompanied by the dissolution of aluminium and formation of soluble Al(OH)(4) (-1) anions under these reaction conditions. After completion of the hydrodebromination reaction removal of the dissolved metals was achieved by precipitation of appropriate hydroxides by adjustment of the pH value and filtration, the filtrate was treated with Pseudomonas or Rhodococcus bacterial strains to degrade dissolved phenol. The combined application of both (chemical-biological) treatments produced degradations of 100% of aromatic compounds.