title: Kinetics of 4-nitrophenol biodegradation in a sequencing batch reactor.
abstract: In this paper, the biodegradation process of 4-nitrophenol (4NP) in a sequencing batch reactor has been investigated. Kinetic tests have been carried out on biomass grown on mixed substrate (4NP plus biogenic substrate) both in the presence of a biogenic substrate fraction in the feed and with 4NP as the sole carbon source. Removal kinetics for all tests is well described by the typical substrate inhibition pattern as predicted by the Haldane equation. In both sets, estimated kinetic parameters are very similar: no beneficial effect of the biogenic fraction is observed on the 4NP removal while increasing trend of 4NP maximum removal rate with the 4NP/COD(TOT) ratio in the feed has been observed. This finding has been modelled by estimating the fraction of the total biomass involved in 4NP biodegradation as a function of 4NP concentration in the feed. High removal rates, short acclimation times and good settling characteristics of produced sludge (observed during the whole working period) confirm the suitability of periodic systems in enhancing the bacterial potentialities for biodegradation of xenobiotic compounds.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Ricerca sulle Acque, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Reno 1, 00198, Roma, Italy. tomei@irsa.rm.cnr.it
authors.forename: M Concetta
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Tomei
authors.forename: M Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Annesini
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luberti
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cento
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Senia
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019149:Bioreactors; D007700:Kinetics; D009596:Nitrophenols / Q000378:metabolism*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D009596:Nitrophenols; C024836:4-nitrophenol