Enrichment of a K-strategist microbial population able to biodegrade p-nitrophenol in a sequencing batch reactor

Aerobic biodegradation of a mixture of monosubstituted phenols in a sequencing batch reactor

“…The average specific PNP removal rate was 0.29±0.04 g C PNP g -1 VSS d -1 . This value is about two times the maximum specific removal rate obtained by Martín-Hernández et al [6], which could be explained by an increase in PNP degradation rate of this culture caused by long-term acclimation. However, regarding the other phenolic compounds used as co-substrates, very small decreases in concentrations were observed, with differences between the initial and final values of ≈ 1-2 mg L -1 , which can be attributed to concurrent volatilization and degradation.…”

“…Hydroquinone is a well-known metabolic intermediate of aerobic PNP biodegradation and was identified as one of the intermediates formed and consumed by the PNP-degrading activated sludge 9 used as inoculum in this study [6]. Catechol is a metabolic intermediate in the aerobic biodegradation of o-cresol and also in the biodegradation of other phenolic compounds [9,18].…”

“…Batch experiments were performed to assess the possibility of biodegrading different phenolic compounds with activated sludge acclimated to consume PNP [6]. The tested compounds were o- The reactor employed for a long-term experiment was a SBR working as a bubble column with a volume of 2 L operated at room temperature (20-25ºC).…”

“…However, biodegradation has become an emerging technological option to degrade such compounds with effective mineralisation and economical processing [6,7]. Bacteria have been used in several studies on the degradation of phenolic compounds [6-8, among others].…”

“…Importantly, Martín-Hernández et al [6] reported the enrichment of an activated sludge able to biodegrade p-nitrophenol (PNP) up to 0.26 g PNP g -1 VSS d -1 through two different metabolic pathways: through hydroquinone and through 4-nitrocatechol. This PNP-degrading sludge was mainly composed of Acinetobacter and Arthrobacter bacteria [10] and can biodegrade mixtures of dihydroxybenzenes [8].…”