title: Biodegradation of industrial-strength 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid wastewaters in the presence of glucose in aerobic and anaerobic sequencing batch reactors.
abstract: This research explored the biodegradability of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in two laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) that operated under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The potential limit of 2,4-D degradation was investigated at a hydraulic retention time of 48 h, using glucose as a supplemental substrate and increasing feed concentrations of 2,4-D; namely 100 to 700 mg/L (i.e. industrial strength) for the aerobic system and 100 to 300 mg/L for the anaerobic SBR. The results revealed that 100 mg/L of 2,4-D was completely degraded following an acclimation period of 29 d (aerobic SBR) and 70 d (anaerobic SBR). The aerobic system achieved total 2,4-D removal at feed concentrations up to 600 mg/L which appeared to be a practical limit, since a further increase to 700 mg/L impaired glucose degradation while 2,4-D biodegradation was non-existent. In all cases, glucose was consumed before the onset of 2,4-D degradation. In the anaerobic SBR, 2,4-D degradation was limited to 120 mg/L.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. t.elefsiniotis@auckland.ac.nz
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Elefsiniotis
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Wareham
mesh_terms: D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D000332:Aerobiosis; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019149:Bioreactors; D005947:Glucose / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid; D005947:Glucose; D062065:Wastewater