: Microbial pellets in the presence of south pole magnetic Ðelds demonstrate enhanced oxidation of phenol. Earlier work at 0É49 tesla indicates qualitatively that a unipolar north magnetic Ðeld inhibits and a south magnetic Ðeld accelerates phenol oxidation rates of an alginate immobilized, mixed bacterial culture bioreactor. This work demonstrates further enhancement by exposure during phenol oxidation at 0É15 and 0É35 tesla, as well as by exposure during acclimation of the free microorganisms prior to immobilization. The enhancement of biodegradation is a function of magnetic Ðeld strength and time of exposure. Enhancement is greatest at 0É15 tesla and indicates the existence of an optimum south magnetic Ðeld strength

Aqueous solutions of the monomers styrene, methyl methacrylate (MMA), and ß-hydroxybutyric acid (HBA) have been biologically treated using a mixed microbial population immobilized in calcuim alginate gel. The effect of their structure on biodegradability have been studied. A comparison of biodégradation rates (3.3, 9.3, and 15 ppm/hr for styrene, MMA, and HBA respectively) indicates the scale of difficulty encountered in biodegrading these monomers. The results show that monomers with a ring structure are relatively difficult to biodegrade than straight chain monomers with a double bond which are relatively difficult to biodegrade when compared to straight chain monomers with no double bond.

A simple, and effective tool to measure BOO with a 98% correlation to theoretical BOD values has been developed using a technique of continuous short term measurements of O2 consumption rates. Measurement times are in the range of 5 to 10 h depending on the initial BOD, instead of 5 days required in the conventional BOD5 analysis. A bioreactor containing calcium alginate entrapped activated sludge microorganisms was used with phenol and hydroxybutyric acid (HBA) as model substrates.

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