To evaluate the anaerobic biodegradability of chemicals under sulfate and nitrate reducing conditions (SRC and NRC), sulfate or nitrate ion concentrations in test medium were optimized. Using 20 mM of sulfate or 30 mM of nitrate contained medium, standardized reducing conditions were successfully achieved. Observed ion consumption resulting from biodegradation of phenol was near to the theoretical value and biodegradation was apparently coupled to the alternative electron acceptors, sulfate or nitrate ion. Biogas based anaerobic biodegradation test of 13 chemicals were conducted under SRC, NRC applying the optimized conditions and methanogenic condition (MTC). Methane was hardly produced and dissolved carbon dioxide was more under SRC and NRC comparing to MTC. Six of 13 tested chemicals were mineralized and four chemicals were persistent under all conditions. However, toluene and triethylamine were mineralized under only NRC. m-nitrophenol was transformed to m-aminophenol under SRC and was persistent under MTC and NRC.
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