The toxicity and biodegradability of eight main phenolic compounds characteristic to the oil-shale industry wastewaters: A test battery approach

Abstract

The toxicity of eight phenolic compounds characteristic to the oil-shale industry wastewaters was analyzed using a battery of seven microbiotests with species representing different trophic ( ) levels photobacteria, protozoa, crustaceans, microalgae . Altogether five monobasic phenolic com-( ) pounds phenol, p-cresol, 2,4-dimethylphenol, 2,3-dimethylphenol, 3,4-dimethylphenol and three diba-( ) sic phenolic compounds resorcinol, 5-methylresorcinol, and 2,5-dimethylresorcinol were studied. Phenol, 2,4-dimethylphenol, 2,3-dimethylphenol, and 5-methylresorcinol were classified as '' toxic'' ( ( ) () ) lowest 50% lethal effective concentration L E C of the battery 1 -10 mg/ L . P-cresol, 3,4-dimethyl-50 ( ( ) phenol, resorcinol, and 2,5-dimethylresorcinol were classified as '' very toxic'' lowest L E C of the 50 ) battery (1 mg/ L . The most sensitive test organisms were crustaceans and / or photobacteria. The ( toxicity of three different equitoxic mixtures mixture of all eight phenols, mixture of five monobasic ) phenols, and mixture of three dibasic phenols was studied using Vibrio fisheri, Daphnia magna, and Thamnocephalus platyurus. For all three test organisms the toxicities of individual phenols were proved additive. The efficiency of biotreatment on the toxicity reduction of the individual phenolic compounds ( ) ( ) 2.5 mM as well as the equimolar mixtures of all eight phenols 1 / 8*2.5 mM each , five monobasic ( ) ( ) phenols 1 / 5*2.5 mM each , and three dibasic phenols 1 / 3*2.5 mM each was studied using acclimated and nonacclimated activated sludges. In the case of both activated sludges phenol, p-cresol, resorcinol, and 5-methylresorcinol were most rapidly detoxified. Dimethylphenols and the mixtures had moderate detoxification times, while the slowest was the detoxification of 2,5-dimethylresorcinol and the mixture of resorcinols. Thus, out of eight phenolic compounds studied 2,5-dimethylresorcinol was ( ) considered most environmentally hazardous as very toxic LC for crustaceans 1 -5 mg/ L and slowly 50 biodegradabable. ᮊ

Monocopper complex based on N-tripodal ligand immobilized in a Nafion® film for biomimetic detection of catechols: Application to dopamine

“…An important source of dissemination is the production, the use and the transformation of many pesticides including some herbicides such as 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and biocides such as 4-chlorophenol and pentachlorophenol [1,2]. Most of phenols are toxic since they easily penetrate the cell membrane, causing necrosis on skin and body organs [3]. They are also cytotoxic, mutagen and carcinogen [4][5][6][7].…”

Resorcinol degradation by a Penicillium chrysogenum strain under osmotic stress: mono and binary substrate matrices with phenol

“…According to Kahru et al (2000), crustacean and/or photobacterial tests (Photobacterium phosphoreum, Microtox, Daphnia magna, Thamnocephalus platyurus, Tetrahymena thermophila, Selenastrum capricornutum) were most sensitive and exhibited complementary sensitivity patterns. In their study, results obtained with Algaltoxkit and Protoxkit, commercial available kits, were less sensitive towards resorcinol contamination (Kahru et al 2000). As the present study was done in saline environment, for this assay, A. franciscana was the organism selected.…”

“…Phenolic compounds are highly toxic to aquatic organisms and most of them have been recognized as carcinogens and genotoxicants (do Ceu Silva et al 2003). Phenol has already been characterized as a major toxic pollutant; however, very little data is available about the toxicity of other phenolic compounds such as resorcinol (Kahru et al 2000).…”

Isolation and molecular characterization of some copper biosorped strains

“…Among these bioassays are bioluminescence tests (Kahru et al, 2000). This test is based on the inhibition of the bioluminescence of luminescent bacteria (lights off).…”