Integrated anaerobic-aerobic process for the biodegradation of chlorinated aromatic compounds

Journal Article · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · Environmental Progress; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.670110217· OSTI ID:7262650

Armenante, P M; Lewandowski, G; Kung, Chengming ^[1]; Kafkewitz, D ^[2]

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1. New Jersey Inst. of Tech., Newark (United States)
2. Rutgers, The State Univ. of New Jersey, Newark (United States)

An integrated anaerobic-aerobic process for the complete mineralization of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol was successfully tested and operated. The sludge obtained from the anaerobic digester of a commercial treatment plant was used to obtain an anaerobic consortium capable of partially dechlorinating 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP). The clarified and sterilized effluent from the same anaerobic digester was used as the medium for the anaerobic consortium. During the anaerobic process 2,4,6-TCP was first dechlorinated to 2,4-dichlorophenol and then to 4-chlorophenol (4CP). Stoichiometric amounts of 4-CP were recovered. Similar results were obtained when the anaerobic microorganisms were immobilized on Manville R-635 silica beads. After immobilization, the consortium was able to dechlorinate 150{mu}M of 2,4,6-TCP in four days. Pseudomonas Glathei and an indigenous culture obtained from same sludge used to produce the anaerobic enrichment culture were shown to be able to degrade the 4-CP produced from the anaerobic dechlorination of 2,4,6-TCP. However, for the aerobic 4-CP mineralization to occur the medium had to be buffered with phosphate, since high pH would inhibit the aerobic bacterial activity. It is expected that the proposed approach will be used to treat recalcitrant halogenated compounds that are not amenable to conventional biological treatment.

• OSTI ID: 7262650
• Journal Information: Environmental Progress; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Progress; (United States) Vol. 11:2; ISSN ENVPD; ISSN 0278-4491
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AEROBIC CONDITIONS
ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS
AROMATICS
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
DECOMPOSITION
GROWTH
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
PSEUDOMONAS
STOICHIOMETRY