Biodegradation of phenol in the presence of heavy metals

✍ Scribed by Yoshitoshi Nakamura; Tatsuro Sawada

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 120 KB
• Volume: 75
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0268-2575
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-4660(200002)75:2<137::aid-jctb194>3.0.co;2-0

✦ Synopsis

A microbial growth model was presented for estimating the dynamic behavior of cell growth and substrate consumption in the biodegradation of phenol containing a heavy metal, such as zinc or copper ions. The application of the model for experiments in a batch culture and a continuous culture was examined. The values calculated according to the model corresponded satisfactorily with experimental data, such as the optical density of cells and the concentration of phenol. Using the model, the stability of steady states in a continuous culture was analytically evaluated based on the eigenvalues. The steady states were separated into three categories: (i) a stable steady state where phenol was consumed, (ii) an unstable steady state where phenol was consumed, and (iii) a washout state where phenol was not consumed. The number, kind, and stability of steady states varied signi®cantly with operational conditions such as dilution rate, feed concentration of phenol, and feed concentration of heavy metal ions. The operational conditions required to obtain the stable steady state where phenol was consumed are shown graphically.