Mass transfer correlation for phenol biodegradation in a fluidized bed bioreactor

Experiments have been carried out in a draft tube fluidized bed bioreactor to study biodegradation of synthetic wastewater containing phenol. The microorganism employed in the study Psuedomonas putida has been immobilized on solid support particles. Studies have been carried out at different feed concentrations of phenol, air flow rates and feed flow rates. The mass transfer coefficient for phenol transfer from bulk phase to the surface of the biofilm on the solid particle has been estimated from observed experimental data using the conservation equations. The mass transfer coefficient was found to be in the range of 0.0726 x 10(-5) to 0.2012 x 10(-5) m s(-1). It was found to increase with increase in feed concentration, air flow rate and feed flow rate. A dimensionless correlation has been developed for the mass transfer coefficient in terms of Sherwood, Reynolds and Schmidt numbers, and the same has been compared with correlations available in literature.     

In situ degradation of phenol and promotion of plant growth in contaminated environments by a single Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain

For bioremediation of contaminated environments, a bacterial strain, SZH16, was isolated and found to reduce phenol concentration in a selective medium. Using the reaction vessel containing the soil mixed with phenol and bacteria, we found that the single strain degraded efficiently the phenol level in soil samples. The strain was identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa on the basis of biochemical tests and by comparison of 16S rDNA sequences, and phosphate solubilization and IAA production were not observed in the strain. Simultaneous examination of the role of strain SZH16 in the plant growth and phenol biodegradation was performed. Results showed that inoculation of the single strain in the phenol-spiked soil resulted in corn growth promotion and in situ phenol degradation and the increase in plant biomass correlated with the decrease in phenol content. Colonization experiments showed that the population of the SZH16 strain remained relatively constant. All these findings indicated that the corn growth promotion might be due to reduction in phytotoxicity, a result of phenol biodegradation by the single strain SZH16. Furthermore, the strain was found to stimulate corn growth and reduce phenol concentration simultaneously in phenol-containing water, and even historically contaminated field soils. It is attractive for environment remediation and agronomic applications.     

Treatment of phenol in synthetic saline wastewater by solvent extraction and two-phase membrane biodegradation

Phenol in synthetic saline (100gL(-1) NaCl) and acidic (pH 3) wastewater was treated by a hybrid solvent extraction and two-phase membrane biodegradation process at 30 degrees C. Kerosene was adopted to be the organic solvent because it was biocompatible and had a suitable partition coefficient for phenol. Phenol in water was first extracted by kerosene in a batch stirred vessel and the loaded solvent was passed through the lumen of a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hollow-fiber membrane contactor; in the meantime, Pseudomonas putida BCRC 14365 in mineral salt medium was flowed across the shell, to which tetrasodium phyophosphate (1gL(-1)) was added as a dispersing agent. The effect of the initial phenol level in wastewater (110-2400mgL(-1)) on phenol removal and cell growth was experimentally studied. At a cell concentration of 0.023gL(-1), it was shown that the removal of phenol from saline wastewater was more efficient at a level of 2000mgL(-1) when 0.02-m(2) membrane module was used. The effects of bigger membrane module size (0.19m(2) area) and higher initial cell concentration (0.092-0.23gL(-1)) on the performance of such a hybrid process for the treatment of higher-level phenol in saline wastewater was also evaluated and discussed.     

假单胞菌phen8的降解特性及其缺失突变株的筛选

对分离筛选到的一株高效苯酚降解菌phen8（假单胞菌Pseudomonas sp.）的底物降解特性进行了分析,并筛选出四株缺的苯酚降解功能的突变株。结果表明,在苯酚初浓度为0－7mmol/L时,苯酚降解菌phen8的菌体密度和降率与培养基中的苯酚初浓度成正比,而大于7mmol/L的苯酚则明显地抑制降解反应,葡萄糖对苯酚的降解也表现出明显的抑制作用。与对照相比,在含有葡萄糖的基本培养基中培养20h后,菌体对苯酚的降解率减小47．2％。已筛选到的四个丢失苯酚降解功能的突变株,并今后降解基因的克隆和基因表达调控研究提供了良好的工作基础。     

Biodegradation of phenol and sodium salicylate mixtures by suspended Pseudomonas putida CCRC 14365

The biodegradation of single phenol and sodium salicylate (SA) and their binary mixtures in water by free Pseudomonas putida (P. putida) CCRC 14365 was experimentally studied at 30 degrees C and pH 7. The initial concentration of the cells, adapted with either phenol or SA, was maintained at 0.025 g/L. Single substrate experiments were performed in the substrate level range 0.53-3.18 mM. The Haldane model has shown that phenol was biodegraded more quickly (mu(max)=0.245 h(-1)) than SA (0.137 h(-1)) under the ranges studied, and SA had a more inhibitory effect on cell growth (K(I)=5.21 mM) than phenol (12.6 mM) at low substrate levels even by SA-adapted cells. Binary substrate experiments were carried out at two fixed total substrate levels of 1.06 and 3.18 mM, with a varying molar concentration ratio of 0.33-3.0. The presence of a small amount of phenol to SA could significantly enhance the biodegradation of SA, particularly when the phenol-adapted cells were employed. On the other hand, the addition of a small amount of SA to phenol would retard the biodegradation of phenol, especially at higher total substrate levels (3.18 mM).     

Combined effects of external mass transfer and biodegradation rates on removal of phenol by immobilized Ralstonia eutropha in a packed bed reactor

Biodegradation of phenol by calcium-alginate immobilized Ralstonia eutropha was carried out in a batch stirred and a packed bed reactor. In the batch system studies, the effect of initial phenol concentration on biodegradation was investigated at 30 degrees C and pH 7 while in the continuous system studies, the effects of flow rate and inlet phenol concentration on biodegradation were tested at the same temperature and pH. The observed biodegradation rate constant was calculated at different flow rates with the assumption of first-order biodegradation kinetics. Various external mass transfer correlations were evaluated and a new correlation of the type JD=K(NRe)(-(n-1)) was developed with the values of K=1.34 and n=0.65. The intrinsic first-order biodegradation rate constants and the external mass transfer coefficients were calculated then the combined effects of these rates on the observed first-order biodegradation rate constants were also investigated.     

The dynamic adsorption characteristics of phenol by granular activated carbon

The objective of the present work is to determine the operating conditions of an activated carbon filter, based on the characteristics of breakthrough curves. For this we apply the technical developed by Mickaels for the ionic exchange and applied by Luchkis for the adsorption, and which is the mass transfer zone. To reach our goal, an evaluation of the operating conditions (height of the bed, flow and concentration of effluent) on the characteristics of the mass transfer zone was made and an explanation of the mechanism of adsorption was given. Thereafter a modeling of the experimental results was done.     

Simultaneous removal of phenol, ammonium and thiocyanate from coke wastewater by aerobic biodegradation

A laboratory-scale activated sludge plant composed of a 20 L volume aerobic reactor followed by a 12 L volume settling tank and operating at 35 degrees C was used to study the biodegradation of coke wastewater. The concentrations of ammonium nitrogen (NH(4)(+) -N), phenols, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and thiocyanate (SCN(-)) in the wastewater ranged between 504 and 2,340, 110 and 350, 807 and 3,275 and 185 and 370 mg/L, respectively. The study was undertaken with and without the addition of bicarbonate. The addition of this inorganic carbon source was necessary to favour nitrification, as the alkalinity of the wastewater was very low. Maximum removal efficiencies of 75%, 98% and 90% were obtained for COD, phenols and thyocianates, respectively, without the addition of bicarbonate. The concentration of ammonia increased in the effluent due to both the formation of NH(4)(+) as a result of SCN(-) biodegradation and to organic nitrogen oxidation. A maximum nitrification efficiency of 71% was achieved when bicarbonate was added, the removals of COD and phenols being almost similar to those obtained in the absence of nitrification. Batch experiments were performed to study the influence of pH and alkalinity on the biodegradation of phenols and thiocyanate.     

Characterization of phenol degradation by Rhizobium sp. CCNWTB 701 isolated from Astragalus chrysopteru in mining tailing region

To screen high strength phenol degrading bacteria, we selected 108 rhizobial strains isolated from nodules of eight wild legumes species in the mining tailing region of Shaanxi province, northwest of China, and cultivated them in a basal salt (BS) medium supplemented with different phenol concentrations as a sole carbon source. The results showed that some of the strains could use phenol as sole carbon source. In order to study the characteristics of phenol degradation, the strain CCNWTB701 isolated from Astragalus chrysopteru was used as well, due to the fact that it was very efficient in phenol degradation. The phenol degradation was around 99.5 and 78.3%, with an initial concentration of 900 and 1000 mg/l phenol in 62 and 66 h, respectively. Kinetic studies indicated that the strain had a high KS (743.1 microM) and an extremely high KSI (10,469 microM) in Haldane's model. The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that CCNWTB701 belonged to the Rhizobium genus, and it was closely related to Rhizobium mongolense and Rhizobium gallicum.     

Degradation of phenol and TCE using suspended and chitosan-bead immobilized Pseudomonas putida

The degradability of phenol and trichloroethene (TCE) by Pseudomonas putida BCRC 14349 in both suspended culture and immobilized culture systems are investigated. Chitosan beads at a size of about 1-2mm were employed to encapsulate the P. putida cells, becoming an immobilized culture system. The phenol concentration was controlled at 100 mg/L, and that of TCE was studied from 0.2 to 20 mg/L. The pH, between 6.7 and 10, did not affect the degradation of either phenol or TCE in the suspended culture system. However, it was found to be an important factor in the immobilized culture system in which the only significant degradation was observed at pH >8. This may be linked to the surface properties of the chitosan beads and its influence on the activity of the bacteria. The transfer yield of TCE on a phenol basis was almost the same for the suspended and immobilized cultures (0.032 mg TCE/mg phenol), except that these yields occurred at different TCE concentrations. The transfer yield at a higher TCE concentration for the immobilized system suggested that the cells immobilized in carriers can be protected from harsh environmental conditions. For kinetic rate interpretation, the Monod equation was employed to describe the degradation rates of phenol, while the Haldane's equation was used for TCE degradation. Based on the kinetic parameters obtained from the two equations, the rate for the immobilized culture systems was only about 1/6 to that of the suspended culture system for phenol degradation, and was about 1/2 for TCE degradation. The slower kinetics observed for the immobilized culture systems was probably due to the slow diffusion of substrate molecules into the beads. However, compared with the suspended cultures, the immobilized cultures may tolerate a higher TCE concentration as much less inhibition was observed and the transfer yield occurred at a higher TCE concentration.     

Removal of phenol from aqueous solutions by adsorption onto activated carbon prepared from biomass material

Activated carbon derived from rattan sawdust (ACR) was evaluated for its ability to remove phenol from an aqueous solution in a batch process. Equilibrium studies were conducted in the range of 25–200 mg/L initial phenol concentrations, 3–10 solution pH and at temperature of 30 °C. The experimental data were analyzed by the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm models. Equilibrium data fitted well to the Langmuir model with a maximum adsorption capacity of 149.25 mg/g. The dimensionless separation factor R_L revealed the favorable nature of the isotherm of the phenol-activated carbon system. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model best described the adsorption process. The results proved that the prepared activated carbon was an effective adsorbent for removal of phenol from aqueous solution.     

The biodegradation pathway of triethylamine and its biodegradation by immobilized Arthrobacter protophormiae cells

A bacterial strain named R4 was isolated from a wastewater treatment pool containing triethylamine (TEA) as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen. Strain R4 was identified as Arthrobacter protophormiae based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and morphological and physiological properties. The optimal pH, temperature and concentration of NaCl for TEA degradation by strain R4 were 7.0, 30°C and 0.5%, respectively. Strain R4 could completely degrade 100 mg l(-1) TEA to ammonia in 32 h, and could also effectively degrade diethylamine (DEA) and ethylamine (EA) to ammonia. The degradation of TEA was strongly inhibited by some metal ions (Cu(2+), Mn(2+), Zn(2+), Co(2+), Ni(2+) and Ag(+)) (1.0mM). Addition of either SO(4)(2-) or NH(4)(+) reduced the degradation efficiency of TEA by strain R4 to a certain extent. The inhibition became significant when the concentration of SO(4)(2-) and NH(4)(+) reached to 11 mM and 30 mM, respectively. Cell-free extracts prepared from cells grown in TEA exhibited TEA monooxygenase, DEA monooxygenase and EA monooxygenase activity. Here, we propose the metabolic pathway of TEA degradation in strain R4. The efficiency of TEA removal by immobilized cells of strain R4 was found to be equivalent to that of free cells. In addition, the immobilized cells could be reused without reduction in their ability to degrade TEA.     

Photocatalytic degradation of phenol in aqueous solutions by Pr-doped TiO2 nanoparticles

Photocatalytic degradation of phenol in water was examined using Pr-doped TiO₂ nanoparticles. These photocatalysts were synthesized by an acid-peptized sol–gel method from titanium tetra-isopropoxide with different concentrations of Pr(III) dopant and calcination temperatures. Several tools such as XRD, BET surface area, SEM, and EDX, were used to evaluate particle structure, size distribution, and composition. The optical absorption properties of the prepared particles were also measured. Photocatalytic activity of the particles was studied in a batch reactor containing phenol solution with 400 W UV irradiation. Parameters affecting photocatalytic process such as the catalyst crystallinity, light absorption efficiency, the dosage of catalyst, dopant and phenol concentrations were investigated. The Pr-doped TiO₂ showed high activity for photocatalytic degradation of phenol. The presence of Pr ions in the TiO₂ particles would cause a significant absorption shift towards the visible region. The degradation process was optimized using 1 g/L Pr-doped TiO₂ with a Pr(III) concentration of 0.072 mol% after 2 h irradiation. It was shown that photodegradation followed a pseudo-first-order kinetics and the rate constant changed with phenol concentration.     

Removal of phenol from aqueous solutions by adsorption onto organomodified Tirebolu bentonite: Equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic study

A natural bentonite modified with a cationic surfactant, cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), was used as an adsorbent for removal of phenol from aqueous solutions. The natural and modified bentonites (organobentonite) were characterized with some instrumental techniques (FTIR, XRD and SEM). Adsorption studies were performed in a batch system, and the effects of various experimental parameters such as solution pH, contact time, initial phenol concentration, organobentonite concentration, and temperature, etc. were evaluated upon the phenol adsorption onto organobentonite. Maximum phenol removal was observed at pH 9.0. Equilibrium was attained after contact of 1 h only. The adsorption isotherms were described by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models, and both model fitted well. The monolayer adsorption capacity of organobentonite was found to be 333 mg g⁻¹. Desorption of phenol from the loaded adsorbent was achieved by using 20% acetone solution. The kinetic studies indicated that the adsorption process was best described by the pseudo-second-order kinetics (R² > 0.99). Thermodynamic parameters including the Gibbs free energy (ΔG°), enthalpy (ΔH°), and entropy (ΔS°) were also calculated. These parameters indicated that adsorption of phenol onto organobentonite was feasible, spontaneous and exothermic in the temperature range of 0–40 °C.     

Statistical optimization of medium components and growth conditions by response surface methodology to enhance phenol degradation by Pseudomonas putida

In this work, a four-level Box-Behnken factorial design was employed combining with response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize the medium composition for the degradation of phenol by pseudomonas putida (ATCC 31800). A mathematical model was then developed to show the effect of each medium composition and their interactions on the biodegradation of phenol. Response surface method was using four levels like glucose, yeast extract, ammonium sulfate and sodium chloride, which also enabled the identification of significant effects of interactions for the batch studies. The biodegradation of phenol on Pseudomonas putida (ATCC 31800) was determined to be pH-dependent and the maximum degradation capacity of microorganism at 30 degrees C when the phenol concentration was 0.2 g/L and the pH of the solution was 7.0. Second order polynomial regression model was used for analysis of the experiment. Cubic and quadratic terms were incorporated into the regression model through variable selection procedures. The experimental values are in good agreement with predicted values and the correlation coefficient was found to be 0.9980.     

Effect of sorption and desorption-resistance on biodegradation of chlorobenzene in two wetland soils

Bioavailability of chlorobenzenes (CBs) in soils to microbial populations has implications for remediation of waste sites with long histories of contamination. Bioavailability of CB was assessed using mineralization assays for two types of wetland soils with contrasting properties. The rate and extent of CB mineralization were greater than predicted by mathematical models which assume instantaneous desorption followed by biodegradation. The freshly added CB was degraded with initial mineralization rates (IMRs) of 0.14microgL(-1)h(-1) and 1.92microgL(-1)h(-1) for marsh soil and wetland soil respectively. These values indicate that CB-degrading bacteria had an access to the sorbed CB. Mineralization assays were also performed for wetland soils after the CB was aged for 1, 7 and 31 days. The results revealed that even a desorption-resistant part of the sorbed CB was degraded although the degradation occurred at lower rates and to a lesser extent.     

Biological phenol removal using immobilized cells in a pulsed plate bioreactor: effect of dilution rate and influent phenol concentration

The continuous aerobic biodegradation of phenol in synthetic wastewater was carried out using Nocardia hydrocarbonoxydans immobilized over glass beads packed between the plates in a pulsed plate bioreactor at a frequency of pulsation of 0.5s(-1) and amplitude of 4.7 cm. The influence of dilution rate and influent phenol concentration on start up and steady state performance of the bioreactor was studied. The time taken to reach steady state has increased with increase in dilution rate and influent phenol concentration. It was found that, as the dilution rate is increased, the percentage degradation has decreased. Steady state percentage degradation was also reduced with increased influent phenol concentration. Almost 100% degradation of 300 and 500 ppm influent phenol could be achieved at a dilution rate of 0.4094 h(-1) and more than 99% degradation could be achieved with higher dilution rates. At a higher dilution rate of 1.0235 h(-1) and at concentrations of 800 and 900 ppm the percentage degradation has reduced to around 94% and 93%, respectively. The attached biomass dry weight, biofilm thickness and biofilm density at steady state were influenced by influent phenol concentration and dilution rate.     

Kinetic and wet oxidation of phenol catalyzed by non-promoted and potassium-promoted manganese/cerium oxide

The wet oxidation of organic compounds to CO2 and H2O has been shown to be a very efficient technique in the outflows treatment. This work focuses on the interaction of the chemical element potassium with the catalyst MnO2-CeO2 in the wet degradation of phenol. The reaction has been carried out in an autoclave with a controlled system of agitation, pressure, temperature and sampling of the liquid phase. The experiments were performed in the presence of the catalysts MnO2-CeO2 and K-MnO2-CeO2 in the following operational conditions: temperature of 130 degrees C, P = 20.4 atm, catalyst concentration in the range 1.5-5.0 g/L, initial phenol concentration of 0.5 g/L, initial pH varying between 6.8 and 8.5, and percentage of potassium in the catalyst MnO2-CeO2 ranging between 0% and 10%. Curves indicating the profile of conversion of total organic carbon show that the phenol degradation is favored when the potassium quantity is reduced. This behaviour is confirmed by BET analysis, whereby the catalyst presents larger specific area when compared to the percentages of other components. Regardless of the catalyst used in the phenol oxidation, the kinetic constant of reaction had the same order of magnitude for two parallel stages proposed by a first-order kinetic model.     

Treatment of metal cyanide bearing wastewater by simultaneous adsorption and biodegradation (SAB)

This paper presents process review and comparative study of biodegradation and adsorption alone with simultaneous adsorption and biodegradation (SAB) process using Pseudomonas fluorescens. Ferrocyanide solution was used for all studies with initial CN(-) concentrations of 50, 100, 200 and 300mg/L, and initial pH of 6. Pseudomonas fluorescens used ferrocyanide as sole source of nitrogen and biodegradation efficiency was observed as 96.4, 94.1, 86.2 and 69.3%, respectively after 60h of agitation. Whereas in adsorption process with granular activated carbon (GAC) as adsorbent, CN(-) removal efficiency was found to be 85.6, 80.1, 70.2 and 50.2%, respectively. But in SAB process the removal efficiency could be more than 70% for all concentrations only at 36h of agitation and achieved removal efficiency of 99.9% for 50 and 100mgCN(-)/L. It was found that SAB process is more effective than biodegradation and adsorption alone.