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Biodegradation of phenol at low temperature using two-phase partitioning bioreactors

Guieysse, Benoit LU ; Autem, Y and Soares, Ana LU (2005) In Water Science and Technology 52(10-11). p.97-105
Abstract
Two-phase partitioning bioreactors offer many advantages for the removal of toxic pollutants. In particular, such systems can be loaded with very large quantities of pollutants without risks of microbial inhibition, they are self-regulated and they prevent the risks of hazardous pollutant volatilisation during aerobic treatment. However, their potential has never been tested at low temperatures. Phenol biodegradation by a cold adapted Pseudomonas strain was therefore tested at 14 or 4 degrees C using 2-undecanone, diethyl sebacate or 2-decanone as organic phases in a two-phase partitioning bioreactor. The three solvents were biocompatible at 14 degrees C but evidence was found that diethyl sebacate was biodegraded by the bacteria and this... (More)
Two-phase partitioning bioreactors offer many advantages for the removal of toxic pollutants. In particular, such systems can be loaded with very large quantities of pollutants without risks of microbial inhibition, they are self-regulated and they prevent the risks of hazardous pollutant volatilisation during aerobic treatment. However, their potential has never been tested at low temperatures. Phenol biodegradation by a cold adapted Pseudomonas strain was therefore tested at 14 or 4 degrees C using 2-undecanone, diethyl sebacate or 2-decanone as organic phases in a two-phase partitioning bioreactor. The three solvents were biocompatible at 14 degrees C but evidence was found that diethyl sebacate was biodegraded by the bacteria and this solvent was not tested further. Although only 2-decanone was suitable at 4 degrees C, phenol biodegradation was more efficient in 2-undecanone at WC, reaching a maximum volumetric rate (based on the volume of aqueous phase) of approximately 1.94 g/L-day after 47 h of cultivation. In 2-clecanone at 14 degrees C, evidence was found that phenol degradation was limited by the release of biosurfactants, which increased the solubility and toxicity of the solvent in the aqueous phase inhibiting microbial activity. This study therefore shows that pollutant removal at low temperature is feasible but that the production of biosurfactants can have a negative impact on the process and must be taken into consideration when selecting the organic solvent. Future work should therefore focus on the selection of solvents suitable for use at temperatures below 14 degrees C. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
wastewater, VOCs, phenol, biodegradation, biphasic, xenobiotics
in
Water Science and Technology
volume
52
issue
10-11
pages
97 - 105
publisher
IWA Publishing
external identifiers
  • pmid:16459781
  • wos:000234617700011
  • scopus:31844457267
ISSN
0273-1223
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
a55506dc-4941-4203-a95b-e2e6ff3b1a6d (old id 209782)
alternative location
http://www.iwaponline.com/wst/05210/0097/052100097.pdf
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:32:45
date last changed
2022-01-28 20:28:34
@article{a55506dc-4941-4203-a95b-e2e6ff3b1a6d,
  abstract     = {{Two-phase partitioning bioreactors offer many advantages for the removal of toxic pollutants. In particular, such systems can be loaded with very large quantities of pollutants without risks of microbial inhibition, they are self-regulated and they prevent the risks of hazardous pollutant volatilisation during aerobic treatment. However, their potential has never been tested at low temperatures. Phenol biodegradation by a cold adapted Pseudomonas strain was therefore tested at 14 or 4 degrees C using 2-undecanone, diethyl sebacate or 2-decanone as organic phases in a two-phase partitioning bioreactor. The three solvents were biocompatible at 14 degrees C but evidence was found that diethyl sebacate was biodegraded by the bacteria and this solvent was not tested further. Although only 2-decanone was suitable at 4 degrees C, phenol biodegradation was more efficient in 2-undecanone at WC, reaching a maximum volumetric rate (based on the volume of aqueous phase) of approximately 1.94 g/L-day after 47 h of cultivation. In 2-clecanone at 14 degrees C, evidence was found that phenol degradation was limited by the release of biosurfactants, which increased the solubility and toxicity of the solvent in the aqueous phase inhibiting microbial activity. This study therefore shows that pollutant removal at low temperature is feasible but that the production of biosurfactants can have a negative impact on the process and must be taken into consideration when selecting the organic solvent. Future work should therefore focus on the selection of solvents suitable for use at temperatures below 14 degrees C.}},
  author       = {{Guieysse, Benoit and Autem, Y and Soares, Ana}},
  issn         = {{0273-1223}},
  keywords     = {{wastewater; VOCs; phenol; biodegradation; biphasic; xenobiotics}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{10-11}},
  pages        = {{97--105}},
  publisher    = {{IWA Publishing}},
  series       = {{Water Science and Technology}},
  title        = {{Biodegradation of phenol at low temperature using two-phase partitioning bioreactors}},
  url          = {{http://www.iwaponline.com/wst/05210/0097/052100097.pdf}},
  volume       = {{52}},
  year         = {{2005}},
}