title: Phenol biodegradation by a microbial consortium: application of artificial neural network (ANN) modelling.
abstract: In this study, an effective microbial consortium for the biodegradation of phenol was grown under different operational conditions, and the effects of phosphate concentration (1.4 g L(-1), 2.8 g L(-1), 4.2 g L(-1)), temperature (25 degrees C, 30 degrees C, 35 degrees C), agitation (150 rpm, 200 rpm, 250 rpm) and pH (6, 7, 8) on phenol degradation were investigated, whereupon an artificial neural network (ANN) model was developed in order to predict degradation. The learning, recall and generalization characteristics of neural networks were studied using data from the phenol degradation system. The efficiency of the model generated by the ANN was then tested and compared with the experimental results obtained. In both cases, the results corroborate the idea that aeration and temperature are crucial to increasing the efficiency ofbiodegradation.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, CEPEMA-POLI-USP, University of São Paulo, São Paulo-SP, CEP 11573-000, Brazil. elen@cepema.usp.br
authors.forename: Elen Aquino
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Perpetuo
authors.forename: Douglas Nascimento
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Ingrid Regina
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Avanzi
authors.forename: Louise Hase
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Gracioso
authors.forename: Marcela Passos Galluzzi
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Baltazar
authors.forename: Claudio Augusto Oller
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Nascimento
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D059013:Microbial Consortia; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer; D019800:Phenol / Q000378:metabolism*; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D013696:Temperature; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D010710:Phosphates; D019800:Phenol