Simultaneous Biodegradation of Toluene and p‐Xylene in a Novel Bioreactor: Experimental Results and Mathematical Analysis

Abstract

Simultaneous biodegradation of toluene and p‐xylene was performed in a novel bioreactor, and the performance was analyzed on the basis of both experimental and mathematical simulation results. The novel bioreactor employed a silicon tubing as a supplier of the aromatic solvents to be treated, and the transfer rate of toluene and p‐xylene into the culture broth was easily controlled. Batch, sequencing batch, and continuous mode of operation were carried out in the novel bioreactor to compare the performance of the biodegradation of solvent mixture. Sequencing batch operation worked well, but several operational difficulties were found. Continuous operation was shown to present higher biodegradation rates and operational stability. The continuous biodegradation process was mathematically simulated, and operational conditions were optimized on the basis of the simulation results.

Kinetics of biodegradation of diesel fuel by enriched microbial consortia from polluted soils

“…In the previous biodegradation studies on other contaminants, a similar trend in biomass yield was observed (Lee et al 1993;Paslawski et al 2009). Lee et al (1993) demonstrated that the substrate can penetrate into the cell membrane and interact with microbial membrane proteins, causing the proteins to malfunction and reducing the biomass yield. The variability in biomass yield could also be attributed to uncoupled growth.…”

Kinetics of biodegradation of p‐xylene and naphthalene and oxygen transfer in a novel airlift immobilized bioreactor

“…When only one growth-limiting substrate is important in determining the rate of cell proliferation, Monod (1950) kinetic model has been found suitable in explaining the biodegradation of hydrocarbons (Alvarez et al, 1991;Kelly et al, 1996;Lee et al, 1993). The kinetics constants including maximum specific growth rate, m max , saturation constant, K s , and yield coefficient, Y, were evaluated for continuous operation in the ISBR.…”

Removal of benzene under acidic conditions in a controlled Trickle Bed Air Biofilter

“…Biofilters are packed columns with biologically active materials such as immobilized cells and compost or inorganic or polymeric media on which immobilized microbial mass is attached [7]. It was proven by several studies that biofilters are able to successfully degrade several compounds like benzene, toluene and p-xylene [9][10][11].…”