BIODEGRADATION OF SUBSTITUTED PHENOLS IN A TWO-PHASE POLYMER/WATER SEQUENCING BATCH REACTOR

The present paper provides an evaluation of the use of polymers beads in two phase partitioning bioreactors applied to the removal of substituted phenols. As a target compound 4-nitrophenol (4NP), a typical representative found in many industrial effluents was selected. Two polymers Hytrel 8206 (DuPont) and Tone P787 (Dow Chemical) were utilized in a series of batch kinetic tests carried out in parallel with single and two phase systems at initial concentrations of 4NP in the range of 300-500 mg/L. The two phase configuration working with polymers was demonstrated to be effective in degrading 4NP in the explored concentration range. The biomass was exposed to 4NP concentrations that are significantly lower if compared to the conventional system during the entire course of the experiments. Better process performance was obtained with Hytrel although both polymers are suitable for use in such applications.