ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the main factors affecting the anaerobic digestion (AD) for simultaneous treatment and bioenergy production from petrochemical wastewater containing mono-ethylene glycol (MEG) and phenol. The anaerobic degradation of petrochemical wastewater containing MEG for hythane production at ambient temperature has been investigated. Petrochemicals are mainly derived from petroleum or natural gas and represent the economic backbone of the developing and advanced countries. The innovative anaerobic treatment technologies for energy production from industrial wastewater have globally received great attention due to the limitations of natural fossil fuels. The petrochemical industry consumes a lot of water and consequently huge amounts of MEG-containing wastewaters are generated, which undoubtedly contaminate water streams and have a negative effect on the environment and human health. Nitrogen and phosphorous are essential nutrients for bacterial growth and successful operation of the AD process. The initial pH strongly affects the hydrolysis and acidification processes of wastewater in the AD process to maximize hydrogen production.
