Simultaneous biodegradation of a phenol and 3,4-dimethylphenol mixture under denitrifying conditions.
Denitrification is a feasible alternative for the treatment of phenolic bearing-wastewaters. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biodegradability of phenolic compounds, as the only carbon and energy source in batch and continuous experiments, using nitrate as a final electron acceptor. Experiments in a continuous upward anaerobic sludge bed reactor demonstrated the possibility of biodegrading a mixture of phenol and 3,4-dimethylphenol at organic loads of 251.6 and 39.5 mg/L-d, respectively, at a COD/NO3(-)-N ratio of 2.57. A nitrogen production efficiency of 86% was obtained according to the nitrate consumption. GC-MS analyses demonstrated that m-cresol was an intermediate of 3,4-dimethylphenol degradation in batch conditions, and had an inhibitory effect on phenol degradation.
Puig-Grajales
L
L
Instituto Mexicano del Petróleo, Programa de Bioteonología, Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas 152, C.P. 07730, México DF.
Rodríguez-Nava
O
O
Razo-Flores
E
E
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019149:Bioreactors; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000378:metabolism*; D019800:Phenol / Q000378:metabolism*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D014992:Xylenes / Q000378:metabolism*
D004202:Disinfectants; D014992:Xylenes; D019800:Phenol; C063628:3,4-dimethylphenol