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PubMed2002

Effects of ozone treatment on the biodegradability of sludge from municipal wastewater treatment plants.

The effects of ozone pretreatment on the biodegradability of municipal wastewater sludge were determined. Three types of experiments were conducted: anaerobic digestion, aerobic biodegradation, and denitrification using ozone-treated sludge as a carbon source. For 5 days, ozonated sludge at 0.1 gO3/g-SS showed about 2-3 times greater biodegradation compared to the raw sludge in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. In anaerobic experiments, biodegradation increased with ozone dosage up to 0.2 gO3/g-SS. Further increase of ozone dosage did not improve the biodegradation. In aerobic condition, about 77% of the ozonated sludge at 0.1 gO3/g-SS could be biodegraded after 15 days and is compared with 36% degradation of the untreated sludge. Most of the biodegradation of the ozonated sludge occurred within 5 days while the raw sludge was biodegraded steadily throughout the experimental period. The biodegradation enhancement of ozonated sludge was confirmed in batch denitrification experiments.

Bacteria, Aerobic↗

PubMed2006

[Effect of particulate size and composition on the biodegradation of PAHS in nature waters].

Effect of particulate size and composition on the biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) in nature waters was examined. Experimental study was carried out for the Yellow River. The results showed that the biodegradation of benzo[a] pyrene and chrysene in water system could be fitted with one-order kinetics and the existence of particulates promoted the biodegradation. When the particulate content was 4 g/L, the sequence of increasing trend in the PAH biodegradation rates was: water system with middle size particulates (7-25 microm) > water system with small size particulates (<7 microm) > water system with large size particulates (>25 microm). The biodegradation rate constants for benzo[a]pyrene in water systems with middle, small and large size particulates were 0.0248 d(-1), 0.0212 d(-1), 0.0192 d(-1), respectively, and that for chrysene were 0.0288 d(-1), 0.0261 d(-1), 0.0218 d(-1), respectively. The mechanisms regarding the effects of particulate size on the biodegradation of PAHs include several aspects. First, the particulate size and composition affected the PAHs degraders level in water system as well as the distribution of PAHs degraders in water and particulate phases. The population of PAHs-degraders in water systems with middle and small size particulates was higher than that with large size particulates. Second, PAHs tended to be sorbed on the particulate phase, and the desorption of PAHs from the particulate phase would lead to a higher concentration of PAHs in the interface between water and particulate phases. Since the PAHs-degraders also tended to grow in the interface between water and particulate phases, this would result in a higher contact chances for PAHs and PAHs-degraders. Therefore, the existence of particulates stimulated the biodegradation of PAHs in water system. Third, the sorption capacity of PAHs and PAHs-degraders on the middle and small size particulates was higher than that on the large size particulates. Consequently, the biodegradation rates of PAHs in water systems with middle and small size particulates were higher than that with large size particulates. However, the desorption capacity of PAHs from middle size particulates was higher than that from small size particulates, leading to that PAHs concentration in the water/particulate interface of the former system was higher than that of the latter system. Therefore, the biodegradation rates of PAHs in water system with middle size particulates were higher than that with small size particulates.

Benzo(a)pyrene↗

PubMed2024

Biochemical insights into the biodegradation mechanism of typical sulfonylureas herbicides and association with active enzymes and physiological response of fungal microbes: A multi-omics approach.

The extensive use of sulfonylurea herbicides has raised major concerns regarding their long-term soil residues and agroecological risks despite their role in agricultural protection. Microbial degradation is an important approach to remove sulfonylureas, whereas understanding the associated biodegradation mechanisms, enzymes, and physiological responses remains incomplete. Based on the rapid biodegradation of nicosulfuron by typical fungal isolate Talaromyces flavus LZM1, the dependency on cellular accumulation and environmental conditions, e.g. pH and nutrient supplies, was shown in the study. The biodegradation of nicosulfuron occurred intracellularly and followed the cascade of reactions including hydrolysis, Smile contraction rearrangement, hydroxylation, and opening of the pyrimidine ring. Besides 2-amino-4,6-dimethoxypyrimidine (ADMP) and 2-aminosulfonyl-N,N-dimethylnicotinamide (ASDM), numerous products and intermediates were newly identified and the structural forms of methoxypyrimidine and sulfonylurea bridge contraction rearrangement are predicted to be more toxic than nicosulfuron. The biodegradation should be enzymatically regulated by glycosylphosphatidylinositol transaminase (GPI-T) and P450s, which were manifested with the significant upregulation in proteomics. It is the first time that the hydrolysis of nicosulfuron into ADMP and ASDM have been associated with GPI-T. The integrated pathways of biodegradation were further elucidated through the involvement of various active enzymes. Except for the enzymatic catalysis, the physiological responses verified by metabolo-proteomics were critical not only to regulate material synthesis, uptake, utilization, and energy transfer but also to maintain antioxidant homeostasis, biodegradability, and tolerance of nicosulfuron by the differentially expressed metabolites, such as acetolactate synthase and 3-isopropylmalate dehydratase. The obtained results would help understand the biodegradation mechanism of sulfonylurea from chemicobiology and enzymology and promote the use of fungal biodegradation in pollution rehabilitation.

Herbicides↗

PubMed1999

Biodegradation of pentachlorophenol (PCP) by white rot fungal strains screened from local sources and its estimation by high-performance liquid chromatography.

White rot fungal strains screened from local sources (wood trunks and from effluents of pulp and paper industry) were tested for their ability to biodegrade polymeric compounds, viz. polymeric dyes (crystal violet and brilliant green) and chlorinated phenol (pentachlorophenol). Two of the most promising strains showing maximum degradation of polymeric dyes were selected to study the biodegradation potential and pattern of biodegradation of pentachlorophenol (PCP), a commonly used leather preservative and a potential carcinogen. PCP was quantitatively estimated and analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Conditions were optimized for the measurement of PCP on HPLC, which were: mobile phase, 60% acetonitrile and 40% water; flow rate, 1 mL/ min; column, mu Bondapack C18 RP and UV detector at 238 nm. One of the white rot fungal strains isolated from wood trunk showed a maximum 68% biodegradation of PCP in liquid-buffered medium in 16 days. The biodegradation pattern of PCP followed a pseudo-first-order kinetics. Studies on enhancement of biodegradation of polymeric dyes and PCP showed that the kinetics of biodegradation is greatly improved by the presence of manganese ions, H2O2 and glucose in the medium. This strongly suggests the involvement of peroxidase enzyme machinery of white rot fungus in the biodegradation process of PCP.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Biodegradation: selection of suitable model.

Biodegradation of five herbicides, two acetanilides (propanil and propachlor), and three phenylureas (diuron, monuron, and fenuron) was analyzed in samples of river water during a period of 6-8 weeks. Concentrations of 0.2-5.0 mg/liter of the herbicides were used for biodegradation. Two types of river water samples with different numbers of microorganisms were collected from the Neris River: upstream and downstream of the city of Vilnius. The initial concentration of microorganisms varied from 4.7 x 10(5) to 2.7 x 10(6) cells/liter and from 1.4 x 10(8) to 5.3 x 10(8) cells/liter in water samples from the Neris River upstream and downstream of Vilnius, respectively. Chemical analysis was performed by the HPLC technique, using standards of herbicides and likely degradation products. Chemical parameters of different river water samples used in biodegradation experiments were analyzed. A second-order reaction rate model was used for the analysis of biodegradation data. Values of the first-order rate constants (Ka) revealed the following decrease in the biodegradation rate of herbicides: propanil >> diuron > or = monuron = propachlor > fenuron. This sequence was constant for all water samples analyzed. The set of decreasing value of second-order biodegradation rate constants (Kb) differed from the set of first-order constants (Ka) because the total number of bacteria in the water samples varied by up to two orders of magnitude, and this variation influenced the calculated values of Kb. Thus, different sets of Kb values were obtained for the water samples from the river upstream and downstream of the city. Schemes of a variety of biodegradation models are presented, and the suitability of the second-order reaction rate model for the description of biodegradation of xenobiotics is discussed.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

PubMed1996

Adding sodium dodecyl sulfate and Pseudomonas aeruginosa UG2 biosurfactants inhibits polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon biodegradation in a weathered creosote-contaminated soil.

The effect of two anionic surfactants was assessed during biodegradation of 13 of the 16 USEPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in a wood-preserving soil contaminated with creosote and pentacholorophenol for a period of at least 20 years. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and biosurfactants from Pseudomonas aeruginosa UG2 were utilized at concentrations of 10, 100 and 500 micrograms/g soil. Because both surfactants are readily biodegradable, the microcosms received a fresh spike of surfactant every 2 weeks. Biodegradation of aged PAH residues was monitored by GC/MS for a period of 45 weeks. Results indicated that the biodegradation of the three-ring PAH was rapid and almost complete but was slowed by the addition of 100 micrograms/g and 500 micrograms/g chemical surfactant. Similarly, at the same concentrations, the two surfactants significantly decreased the biodegradation rate of the four-ring PAH. In this case, the inhibition was more pronounced with SDS. High-molecular-mass PAH (more than four rings) were not biodegraded under the test conditions. It was suggested that the preferential utilization of surfactants by PAH degraders was responsible for the inhibition observed in the biodegradation of the hydrocarbons. The high biodegradability and the inhibitory effect of these two surfactants would have a significant impact on the development of both above-ground and in situ site reclamation processes.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

PubMed2006

Biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in seawater at low temperatures (0-5 degrees C) and bacterial communities associated with degradation.

In this study biodegradation of hydrocarbons in thin oil films was investigated in seawater at low temperatures, 0 and 5 degrees C. Heterotrophic (HM) or oil-degrading (ODM) microorganisms enriched at the two temperatures showed 16S rRNA sequence similarities to several bacteria of Arctic or Antarctic origin. Biodegradation experiments were conducted with a crude mineral oil immobilized as thin films on hydrophobic Fluortex adsorbents in nutrient-enriched or sterile seawater. Chemical and respirometric analysis of hydrocarbon depletion showed that naphthalene and other small aromatic hydrocarbons (HCs) were primarily biodegraded after dissolution to the water phase, while biodegradation of larger polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and C(10)-C(36) n-alkanes, including n-hexadecane, was associated primarily with the oil films. Biodegradation of PAH and n-alkanes was significant at both 0 and 5 degrees C, but was decreased for several compounds at the lower temperature. n-Hexadecane biodegradation at the two temperatures was comparable at the end of the experiments, but was delayed at 0 degree C. Investigations of bacterial communities in seawater and on adsorbents by PCR amplification of 16S rRNA gene fragments and DGGE analysis indicated that predominant bacteria in the seawater gradually adhered to the oil-coated adsorbents during biodegradation at both temperatures. Sequence analysis of most DGGE bands aligned to members of the phyla Proteobacteria (Gammaproteobacteria) or Bacteroidetes. Most sequences from experiments at 0 degree C revealed affiliations to members of Arctic or Antarctic consortia, while no such homology was detected for sequences from degradation experiment run at 5 degrees C. In conclusion, marine microbial communities from cold seawater have potentials for oil film HC degradation at temperatures < or =5 degrees C, and psychrotrophic or psychrophilic bacteria may play an important role during oil HC biodegradation in seawater close to freezing point.

Arctic Regions↗

PubMed1995

Biodegradation ranks of priority organic compounds under anaerobic conditions.

The biodegradations of 52 priority organic compounds were evaluated under anaerobic conditions by two tests developed in a preceding paper (Urano et al., 1995). Namely, the biodegradabilities of the compounds were classified into 13 ranks by the method proposed by Urano et al. (1995). Most of the aliphatic alcohols and carboxylic acids were not inhibitory and were biodegraded, but the compounds having ether bonds or branched hydrocarbon groups were biodegraded slowly. Aliphatic aldehyde and amines were not so much inhibitory but were hardly biodegraded. The benzene substitutes having groups of -CH2OH, -CHO, -CH2CH(NH2)COOH, -COOH and -OH were easily biodegraded, but the compounds having groups of -NO2, -NH2 and -SO3H were hardly biodegraded. Most of the nitro compounds were inhibitory in the higher concentration test though they were reduced into amino compounds. Since the biodegradation characteristics of many organic compounds could be classified and discussed appropriately, the suitability of the proposed method is substantiated.

Anaerobiosis↗

PubMed1986

Comparative kinetics study of the evolution of freshwater aquatic toxicity and biodegradability of linear and branched alkylbenzene sulfonates.

Evolution of both primary biodegradability and acute toxicity to daphnia and zebra fish of a linear alkylbenzene sodium sulfonate (LAS) and a branched alkylbenzene sodium sulfonate (BAS) have been measured simultaneously. In six of eight experiments, LAS was biodegraded to 90% in 7 days and BAS to 70% in 7 days. In the two other experiments, both LAS and BAS have shown the same biodegradation speed and reached the same biodegradation level in 7 days: 45% in one experiment and 55% in the other. The composition of bacteria population and the level of cellular ATP of the inoculum play a decisive role in the biodegradation. These results confirm that it is essential to know the composition of bacteria population present in the inoculum as well as their biochemical characteristics to accurately interpret results of biodegradation tests. In the case of a rapid primary biodegradation of LAS and BAS, the acute toxicity of LAS remains three times as high as that of BAS for at least 24 hr toward daphnia and 48 hr toward zebra fish. Their acute toxicity to daphnia and zebra fish become equivalent only after 72 hr. When primary biodegradation of both products is slower, the acute toxicity of LAS remains higher than that of BAS for more than 7 days.

Alkanesulfonates↗

PubMed2002

Biodegradability testing of synthetic ester lubricants--effects of additives and usage.

The optimised biodegradability test system "O2/CO2 Headspace Test with GC-TCD" is used for the assessment of synthetic ester lubricants. The effects of both additives and usage on biodegradability are examined and discussed. Ester based cutting fluids and hydraulic fluids with and without additives are used under defined conditions at machine tools and hydraulic and plain bearing test benches. The lubricants are characterised additionally with respect to kinematic viscosity, acidity and elemental composition. Furthermore, a formulated mineral oil is characterised before and after usage at an hydraulic test bench. The results clearly show that the mineral oil is far less biodegradable than the ester oils and that their biodegradability is not affected by usage. Biodegradability of the ester oils is mainly depending on the characteristics of the base fluids and not affected by the additives. Antioxidants are influencing stability respectively biodegradability indirectly, since they prevent oxopolymerisation effects. Other effects of usage on biodegradation are not detected. In this context, the antioxidants ensure ready biodegradability and have a positive effect on the environmental fate of synthetic ester lubricants.

Antioxidants↗

PubMed1999

A kinetic distribution model of evaporation, biosorption and biodegradation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the suspension of Pseudomonas stutzeri.

Kinetics of distribution of PCBs in an active bacterial suspension of Pseudomonas stutzeri was studied by monitoring the evaporated amounts and the concentration remaining in the liquid medium with the biomass. To determine the biodegradation rate constants of the individual congeners of the PCB formulation Delor 103, a model considering biosorption, evaporation, and primary biodegradation constructed previously was used. Rate constants of biodegradation imply that biodegradation of individual congeners is structure-dependent process. Biodegradability decreases with increasing number of chlorine substituents in the molecule, especially if they are in the ortho and para positions. On the other hand, the increasing number of free ortho and meta positions in the biphenyl molecule leads to better biodegradability. For a simple empirical determination of the influence of the chlorine substitution pattern on biodegradability, the di- and trichlorobiphenyl rate constants of biodegradation were analysed.

Adsorption↗

PubMed2004

Preliminary exploration of the relationships between soil characteristics and PAH desorption and biodegradation.

Desorption and biodegradation of pyrene (PYR) were investigated and their relationships to soil characteristics were addressed. The results indicated that maximum achievable desorption was 30.2, 10.4, and 1.0 mg/kg for soils that had 1.7, 2.2, and 4.4 wt.% of expandable clays (smectite and vermiculite), respectively. Neither dissolved organic matter (DOM) nor total clay amounts made a good prediction of the desorption trend. Subsequently, the ease of desorption facilitated a faster aqueous biodegradation rate. The slowest aqueous biodegradation rate, 0.02 l/h, was achieved for the soil system that had the greatest amount of expandable clays, whereas the soil containing 1.7% expandable clays only achieved 0.73 l/h. The soil with 2.2% expandable clays depicted 0.41 l/h of aqueous biodegradation rate. A good linear correlation was obtained between maximum achievable desorption and aqueous biodegradation rate (R(2)=0.92). Soil analysis revealed that the total (soil+water) biodegradation reached was 65%, 78.3%, and 81.8% of the initial concentration (100 mg/kg) for the sandy clay loam (Colombian), sandy loam (Ohio), and silty loam (New Mexico) soils, respectively. This biodegradation extent was also in good agreement of expandable clay amount. Although aqueous PYR bioavailability was limited due to the strong association with the expandable clays, microbial movement and adhesion to those clays seemed to result in a great extent of the soil-phase biodegradation.

Adsorption↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Biodegradation of chemically modified flax fibers in soil and in vitro with selected bacteria.

The extent and rate of degradation of flax (Linum usitatissimum) fibers, both in the native state and after surface chemical modification (acetylation or poly(ethylene glycol), PEG, grafting), was investigated under laboratory conditions in two different biodegrading environments. Degradation of the fibers under aerobic conditions by the action of the microorganisms present in soil is assessed with the ASTM 5988-96 method by monitoring carbon dioxide evolution. In vitro biodegradation experiments were carried out by exposing the fibers to a pure culture of Cellvibrio fibrovorans bacteria and measuring the mass loss as a function of time. Despite the complexity of the system, the results of degradation in soil were satisfactorily reproducible, although the absolute rates were found to change in different experiments using the same soil. The degradation rate of acetylated fibers in soil nearly equals that of unmodified fibers, whereas in the pure culture, acetylated fibers biodegrade slower than native fibers. The opposite happens with the PEG-grafted fibers, which degrade slower than unmodified flax in soil and at a comparable rate upon in vitro exposure to the bacterial culture. The different biodegradation kinetics observed in the two biodegrading environments were attributed to differences of biocenoses, abiotic factors, and biodegradation assessing methods. Nevertheless, the final extent of biodegradation was the same for modified and unmodified fibers both in soil and in the pure culture, showing that the surface chemical modifications applied do not significantly affect biodegradability of the flax fibers.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

PubMed2001

Influence of rhamnolipids and triton X-100 on the biodegradation of three pesticides in aqueous phase and soil slurries.

The effect of surfactants on the biodegradation of trifluralin and atrazine (by Streptomyces PS1/5) and coumaphos (by degrading consortia from a contaminated cattle dip) in liquid cultures and soil slurries was tested at different concentrations of a rhamnolipid mixture (Rh-mix) and Triton X-100 (TX-100). The extent of trifluralin biodegradation in liquid culture was improved at high concentrations of both surfactants. The extent of atrazine degradation dropped in the presence of either surfactant. Coumaphos biodegradation improved slightly at Rh-mix dosages >3000 microM; however, it was readily inhibited by TX-100 at amounts above the critical micelle concentration. In soil slurries, the extent of both trifluralin and atrazine biodegradation was higher in Hagerstown A (HTA) soil than in Hagerstown B (HTB) soil and was not significantly affected by the presence of either surfactant. The onset of trifluralin biodegradation was retarded at higher concentrations of surfactants. In the absence of surfactant, up to 98% of coumaphos in both soil slurries was transformed. At increasing dosages of Rh-mix, the onset of coumaphos biodegradation was retarded, but the removal efficiency of the pesticide increased. Rh-mix and TX-100 depletion was observed during Streptomyces PS1/5 growth in liquid cultures. Rh-mix concentration also decreased during coumaphos biodegradation, whereas TX-100 concentration was not affected. These results suggest that surfactants, added for the purpose of increasing the apparent water solubility of hydrophobic organic compounds, may have unintended effects on both the rate and extent of biodegradation of the target compounds if the surfactants can also be degraded by the microorganisms in the system.

Atrazine↗

PubMed1979

Effect of environmental parameters on the biodegradation of oil sludge.

A laboratory study was conducted with the aim of evaluating and optimizing the environmental parameters of "landfarming", i.e., the disposal by biodegradation in soil of oily sludges generated in the refining of crude oil and related operations. Oil sludge biodegradation was monitored by CO2 evolution and by periodic analysis of residual hydrocarbons. The parameters studied were soil moisture, pH, mineral nutrients, micronutrients, organic supplements, treatment rate, teratment frequency, and incubation temperature. Oil sludge biodegradation was optimal at a soil water-holding capacity of 30 to 90%, a pH of 7.5 to 7.8, C:N and C:P ratios of 60:1 and 800:1, respectively, and a temperature of 20 degrees C or above. Addition of micronutrients and organic supplements was not beneficial; sewage sludge interfered with hydrocarbon biodegradation. Breakdown of the saturated hydrocarbon (alkane and cycloalkane) fraction was the highest at low application rates, but higher application rates favored the biodegradation of the aromatic and asphaltic fractions. An application rate of 5% (wt/wt) oil sludge hydrocarbon to the soil (100,000 liters/hectare) achieved a good compromise between high biodegradation rates and efficient land use and resulted in the best overall biodegradation rate of all hydrocarbon classes. Frequent small applications resulted in higher biodegradation than single large applications. Two 100,000-liter/hectare (255 barrels per acre) or four 50,000-liter/hectare oil sludge hydrocarbon applications per growing season seem appropriate for most temperate zone disposal sites.

Bacteria↗

PubMed1999

Influence of chemical surfactants on the biodegradation of crude oil by a mixed bacterial culture.

The effects of surfactant physicochemical properties, such as the hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) and molecular structure, on the biodegradation of 2% w/v Bow River crude oil by a mixed-bacterial culture were examined. Viable counts increased 4.6-fold and total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) biodegradation increased 57% in the presence of Igepal CO-630, a nonylphenol ethoxylate (HLB 13, 0.625 g/L). Only the nonylphenol ethoxylate with an HLB value of 13 substantially enhanced biodegradation. The surfactants from other chemical classes with HLB values of 13 (0.625 g/L) had no effect or were inhibitory. TPH biodegradation enhancement by Igepal CO-630 occurred at concentrations above the critical micelle concentration. When the effect of surfactant on individual oil fractions was examined, the biodegradation enhancement for the saturate and aromatic fractions was the same. In all cases, biodegradation resulted in increased resin and asphaltene concentrations. Optimal surfactant concentrations for TPH biodegradation reduced resin and asphaltene formation. Chemical surfactants have the potential to improve crude oil biodegradation in complex microbial systems, and surfactant selection should consider factors such as molecular structure, HLB, and surfactant concentration.

Bacteria↗

PubMed2001

Substrate interactions during aerobic biodegradation of methane, ethene, vinyl chloride and 1,2-dichloroethenes.

Intrinsic biodegradation of trichloroethene and 1,1,1-trichloroethane in groundwater at a Superfund site in California has been observed. An anaerobic zone exists in the area closest to the source location, yielding the expected complement of reductive dechlorination daughter products, including cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cis-DCE) and vinyl chloride (VC). Significant levels of methane and ethene were also generated in the anaerobic zone. The groundwater returns to aerobic conditions downgradient of the source, with methane, ethene, VC, and several other compounds still present. Attenuation of VC in the aerobic zone suggests that it is being biodegraded. In this study microcosms were used to evaluate the role of methane and ethene as primary substrates for aerobic biodegradation of VC. Biodegradation of VC was fastest in the bottles containing ethene, with 40 mumol of VC consumed over a 150 day period, compared to approximately 15-20 mumol with methane or a mixture of methane and ethene. VC did not noticeably inhibit ethene biodegradation but did slow the rate of methane use. Methane inhibited ethene metabolism, which apparently caused a reduction in VC biodegradation when methane was present with ethene. These results suggest that ethene plays an important role during in situ natural attenuation of VC under aerobic conditions. Microcosms were also set up with VC alone. Following a 75 day lag period. VC consumption began and subsequent additions were consumed without a lag, suggesting the presence of organisms capable of using VC as a growth substrate. After providing VC alone for nearly 400 days, aliquots of the enrichment culture were used to evaluate its ability to biodegrade cis- and trans-DCE. Both compounds were readily consumed, although addition of VC as the primary substrate was needed to sustain biodegradation of repeated additions. This result suggests that organisms capable of using VC as a sole substrate may play an active role in aerobic natural attenuation of DCEs.

Bacteria, Aerobic↗

PubMed2003

Hazard identification of pharmaceutical wastewaters using biodegradability studies.

A reliable wastewater characterization is an integral part of treatment and management strategies for industrial effluents. This is especially true for the pharmaceutical industry, which exhibits significant differences in its line of activity, generating effluents of very specific and complex natures. Any hazard or risk assessment of wastewater and/or determination of its treatability must include an evaluation of its degradability. Usually various non-standardized laboratory or pilot-scale long-term tests are run by measuring summary parameters for several days to determine the biodegradation potential of the effluent. A complex approach, based on stabilization studies, was proposed to determine the hazardous impact of wastewaters in terms of biodegradable and persistent toxicity. The objective of our work was to carry out complex hazard evaluation of pharmaceutical wastewaters. Whole effluent toxicity was determined using two different toxicity tests. First, we measured the inhibition of oxygen consumption by activated sludge. The test indicated toxicity of the wastewater and thus we performed an additional acute toxicity test with luminescent bacteria Vibrio fisheri. The next step was the determination of whole effluent ready biodegradability. It was determined with simultaneous measurement of oxygen consumption (ISO 9804) and carbon dioxide production (ISO 9439) in a closed respirometer, accompanied by DOC/IC measurements. The pharmaceutical wastewater degraded readily (83%, lag phase was 2 days, biodegradation rate was 0.33999 day(-1)) on the basis of O2 measurements. The biodegradation, calculated from the CO2 measurements, was comparable. We also applied mass balances of DOC/IC at the beginning and at the end of biodegradation experiments to confirm the extent and rate of biodegradation. The determination of hazardous impact and treatability of the effluent was concluded with aerobic stabilization studies. Biodegradation of the wastewater during the study was followed by relevant biochemical analysis and DOC/IC mass balance.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗