title: The effect of an aldehyde biocide on the performance and characteristics of laboratory-scale rotating biological contactors.
abstract: The effect of an aldehyde biocide, glutaraldehyde, on the treatment efficiency of laboratory-scale rotating biological contactors (RBCs) as well as their component biofilms was studied. Biofilms were established on the RBCs and then exposed to 0-120 ppm glutaraldehyde at a flow rate of 2.5 l x h(-1). The results showed that glutaraldehyde up to 80 ppm did not cause any adverse effect on chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of the RBC units, microbial activity (ATP content) of biofilms on the RBC disc and viability of the biofilms. Glutaraldehyde at 80 ppm could be almost totally removed by the units regardless of the presence of simple carbon sources. There was at least a fourfold difference in susceptibility of planktonic and sessile bacteria to glutaraldehyde. Cells acclimatized to glutaraldehyde did not increase their capability to degrade normal carbon sources or glutaraldehyde under the conditions used in this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Technology, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand. lakcha@kku.ac.th
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laopaiboon
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000447:Aldehydes / Q000633:toxicity; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis / Q000379:methods; D005976:Glutaral / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000447:Aldehydes; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004202:Disinfectants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D005976:Glutaral