title: Physicochemical properties and trace organic compounds in a dairy processor's aerobic bioreactor.
abstract: Wastewater samples were taken from an aerobic bioreactor, operated by a dairy processor in southeastern Australia to reduce nutrient and pollutant loads. Samples were taken over a two-year period, to determine whether trace organic compounds or physicochemical analyses of the wastewater could be used to discriminate the water taken before, during and after processing of the wastewater in the bioreactor. Multivariate analyses of the physicochemical data suggested that nitrate, pH and total dissolved nitrogen best described the infeed wastewater entering the bioreactor, while organic and particulate phosphorus concentrations where predominantly responsible for describing the composition of the content of the bioreactor. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry data of organic compounds within the wastewater samples were also analysed via multivariate analyses. The analyses found that the compound 4-nitrophenol was associated with ammonia concentrations and mixed liquor wastewater. Therefore, 4-nitrophenol may possibly be used to act as an indicator of anaerobicity in aerobic bioreactors.
authors.affiliation: Future Farming Systems Research Division, Department of Primary Industries, Ellinbank, Victoria 3821, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Heaven
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wild
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Souza
authors.forename: Amsha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nahid
authors.forename: Dedreia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tull
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watkins
authors.forename: Murray
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hannah
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nash
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D019149:Bioreactors; D003612:Dairying; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis*; D025341:Principal Component Analysis
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals