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Respirometric technique for determination of extant kinetic parameters describing biodegradation
Author(s) -
Ellis Timothy G.,
Barbeau Daniel S.,
Smets Barth F.,
Grady C. P. Leslie
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143096x127929
Subject(s) - biodegradation , respirometry , activated sludge , bioreactor , kinetics , chemistry , chemical oxygen demand , substrate (aquarium) , extant taxon , environmental chemistry , ethylene glycol , chromatography , environmental science , environmental engineering , wastewater , organic chemistry , biology , ecology , evolutionary biology , physics , quantum mechanics
A batch respirometric test was developed to measure the response of activated sludge communities degrading low concentrations of organic chemicals. The low substrate concentrations used in the assay ensure that minimal changes occur in the physiological state of the degrading community. The estimated kinetic parameters are, therefore, extant, that is, representative of the existing condition of the biomass in the continuous bioreactor. Monte Carlo and sensitivity analyses were performed to verify the robustness of the technique for determining unique and accurate estimates of the parameters describing Monod and Andrews kinetics. Application of the technique to a laboratory‐scale activated sludge system showed that kinetic parameter estimates were reproducible and independent of the substrate concentration within the range tested (0.2–4.0 mg/L as chemical oxygen demand [COD]). Low K s values (<0.1 mg/L as COD) were measured by the assay for the biodegradation of phenol and 4‐chlorophenol, both of which exhibited an inhibitory response (Andrews kinetics). The biodegradation of ethylene glycol, acrylamide, and acetate exhibited Monod kinetics.