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Evaluation of reference carbon and inocula sources used in biodegradation test systems that measure oxygen consumption
Author(s) -
Stainken Dennis M.,
Stevenson Cathy A.,
Blum James E.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620020206
Subject(s) - sodium acetate , biodegradation , chemistry , activated sludge , biochemical oxygen demand , yeast , sodium , chemical oxygen demand , yeast extract , environmental chemistry , carbon source , chromatography , wastewater , food science , biochemistry , environmental engineering , organic chemistry , fermentation , environmental science
Numerous procedures are used to evaluate the biodegradation potential of organic chemicals. Optimal conditions for tests, efficiency of tests, effects of microbe sources and appropriate reference media often are not defined. This study determined the effect of three inocula [resh activated sludge, yeast ( Saccharomyces sp.) and laboratory‐maintained sludge culture] and four reference compounds (glucose, sodium acetate, linear alkylate sulfonate and diethylene glycol) in BOD 5 , BOD 20 (biological oxygen demand) and manometric experiments. The effects of variable nitrogen sources [NH 4 Cl or (NH 2 )SO 4 ] in the buffer were examined, and optimal inocula, reference compounds and buffer compositions were determined in each test system. In the BOD 5 test using NH 4 Cl, yeast had the greatest activity, and glucose was the preferred carbon source of all three inocula. When (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 replaced NH 4 Cl, fresh sludge had the greatest activity and lowest variability, with sodium acetate being the preferred carbon source. BOD 20 tests indicated that fresh sludge and glucose were the optimal combination in buffer with NH 4 Cl. Manometric results indicated that fresh sludge, sodium acetate and buffer with NH 4 Cl were the optimal combination.