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This paper explores the merit of the oxygen uptake rate (OUR) profile obtained by means of respirometry as the basic mechanistic instrument for evaluating activated sludge inhibition. Experimental OUR data are generated using the synthetic peptone-based substrate and inhibition is tested with 60 mg/L hexavalent chromium and 33 mg/L nickel additions, corresponding to EC50 levels determined using the standard ISO 8192 procedure. Experimental results are evaluated by model calibration using ASM1 modified for dual hydrolysis and ASM3 modified for simultaneous growth. Model evaluations indicate that inhibition affects not only growth, but also other significant microbial mechanisms such as substrate storage and hydrolysis, leading to conclude that the proposed approach will enable to visualize the overall impact of the inhibitory compound on every stage of substrate biodegradation, through inspection and evaluation of the entire OUR profile.

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The study evaluated the response of an enriched microbial culture on 2,6-dihydroxybenxoic acid (2,6-DHBA) and peptone mixture at low sludge age (theta(X)) under aerobic conditions. It emphasized the effect of culture history by comparing the response of the microbial culture sustained at identical conditions but at two different theta(X) of 2 and 10 days. The fate and impact of continuous 2,6-DHBA addition were evaluated by means of changes induced on the oxygen uptake rate profiles. The acute impact of 2,6-DHBA drastically changed with the culture history. It only inhibited the utilization of the readily biodegradable COD fraction but maintained the overall stoichiometry of substrate removal at a theta(X) of 2 days, while blocking microbial activity with only partial substrate utilization when the theta(X) was 10 days. After four days of continuous 2,6-DHBA feeding, the microbial culture was acclimated providing simultaneous removal for peptone and 2,6-DHBA. The acclimation period was apparently a function of the theta(X) and it was shorter than 10 days. Evaluation of the oxygen uptake rate profiles indicated that acclimation resulted in the development of a dual microbial community with the selective growth of another group of biomass equipped with the enzymatic tools for utilizing 2,6-DHBA as an organic carbon source.