title: Effects of oxygen on biodegradation of benzoate and 3-chlorobenzoate in a denitrifying chemostat.
abstract: A mixed microbial culture degraded a mixture of benzoate (863 mg/L), 3-chlorobenzoate (3-CB) (69.7 mg/L), and pyruvate (244 mg/L) under denitrifying conditions in a chemostat. Biodegradation under denitrifying conditions was stable, complete (effluent concentrations below detection limits), and proceeded without the production of toxic intermediates like chlorocatechols. The addition of oxygen at mass input rates of 6.2%, 15.5%, and 43.9% of the mass input rate of chemical oxygen demand (COD) (337 mg COD/h) did not induce the synthesis of aerobic biodegradation pathways and thus did not disrupt biodegradation. Rather, the oxygen was used as a terminal electron acceptor, displacing a stoichiometric amount of nitrate, leading to microaerobic conditions (dissolved oxygen concentration <0.050 mg/L) in which oxygen utilization and denitrification occurred simultaneously. The reduction of nitrate occurred fully to N(2) gas with no accumulation of nitrite, nitrous oxide, or nitric oxide, although the ability of the culture to transfer electrons to the nitrogen oxides decreased as the oxygen input was increased. The anoxic benzoate uptake capability was unaffected by the increase in oxygen addition, but the anoxic 3-CB uptake capability increased, as did the level of benzoyl-CoA reductase in the cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering and Science, L. G. Rich Environmental Research Laboratory, Clemson Research Park, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0919, USA.
authors.forename: Timur
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Deniz
authors.forename: Ozer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cinar
authors.forename: C P Leslie
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Grady
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000502:physiology; D001565:Benzoates / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002723:Chlorobenzoates / Q000378:metabolism*; D007220:Industrial Waste; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides / Q000032:analysis; D010100:Oxygen; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001565:Benzoates; D002723:Chlorobenzoates; D007220:Industrial Waste; D009566:Nitrates; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides; C036427:3-chlorobenzoic acid; D010100:Oxygen