title: Modeling the fate and effect of benzalkonium chlorides in a continuous-flow biological nitrogen removal system treating poultry processing wastewater.
abstract: The fate and effect of the antimicrobial compounds benzalkonium chlorides (BACs) on the biological nitrogen removal (BNR) processes for a continuous-flow, three-stage laboratory-scale BNR system were modeled. Three kinetic sub-models, corresponding to each reactor, were developed and then combined in a comprehensive ASM1-based model. Kinetic parameters for the three sub-models were evaluated using experimental data obtained from independent batch assays. The biodegradation of BACs was modeled with a mixed-substrate Monod equation. The inhibitory effect of BACs on the utilization of degradable COD and denitrification was modeled as competitive inhibition, whereas non-competitive inhibition was used to model the effect of BACs on nitrification and inhibition coefficients were evaluated. The model simulated well the long-term performance of the BNR system treating a poultry processing wastewater with and without BACs. Enhanced BAC degradation by heterotrophs and increased resistance of nitrifiers to BACs, reflecting acclimation/enrichment over time, is a salient feature of the model.
authors: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0512, USA.
authors: Malek G
authors: MG
authors: Hajaya
authors: Spyros G
authors: SG
authors: Pavlostathis
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D000818:Animals; D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D019149:Bioreactors; D003198:Computer Simulation; D058440:Denitrification; D007700:Kinetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D017672:Nitrogen Compounds / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D011200:Poultry; D062065:Wastewater / Q000032:analysis; D018508:Water Purification
chemical_list: D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds; D017672:Nitrogen Compounds; D062065:Wastewater