title: The use of naturally generated volatile fatty acids for herbicide removal via denitrification.
abstract: This research focuses on the removal of 2, 4-D via denitrification, with a particular emphasis on the effect of adding naturally generated volatile fatty acids (VFAs) as a carbon source. These VFAs had been produced from an acid-phase anaerobic digester (mean VFA concentration of 3153 +/- 801 mg/L [as acetic acid]). The first step involved developing 2, 4-D degrading bacteria in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) fed with both sewage and 2, 4-D (30-100 mg/L). Subsequent denitrification batch tests demonstrated that the specific denitrification rate increased from 0.0119 +/- 0.0039 to 0.0192 +/- 0.0079 g NO(3)-N/g volatile suspended solids (VSS) per day, when using 2, 4-D alone versus 2, 4-D plus natural VFAs from the digester as a carbon source. Similarly, the specific 2, 4-D consumption rate increased from 0.0016 +/- 0.0009 to 0.0055 +/- 0.0021 g 2,4-D/g VSS per day, when using 2, 4-D alone as compared to using 2, 4-D plus natural VFAs. Finally, a parallel increase in the percent 2, 4-D removal was observed, rising from 28.33 +/- 11.88 using 2, 4-D alone to 54.17 +/- 21.89 using 2, 4-D plus natural VFAs.
authors.affiliation: Gold Coast Water, Gold Coast, MC, Australia.
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Wareham
mesh_terms: D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D019149:Bioreactors; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry*; D006540:Herbicides / Q000737:chemistry*; D009566:Nitrates / Q000737:chemistry; D012037:Refuse Disposal
chemical_list: D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D006540:Herbicides; D009566:Nitrates; D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid