Biodegradation kinetics of 1,4-benzoquinone in batch and continuous systems.

Combining chemical and biological treatments is a potentially economic approach to remove high concentration of recalcitrant compounds from wastewaters. In the present study, the biodegradation of 1,4-benzoquinone, an intermediate compound formed during phenol oxidation by chlorine dioxide, was investigated using Pseudomonas putida (ATCC 17484) in batch and continuous bioreactors. Batch experiments were conducted to determine the effects of 1,4-benzoquinone concentration and temperature on the microbial activity and biodegradation kinetics.

Scale up of diesel oil biodegradation in a baffled roller bioreactor.

Diesel oil is a suitable substance to represent petroleum contamination from accidental spills in operating and transportation facilities. Using a microbial culture enriched from a petroleum contaminated soil, biodegradation of diesel oil was carried out in 2.2, 55, and 220 L roller baffled bioreactors.

Biodegradation kinetics of trans-4-methyl-1-cyclohexane carboxylic acid.

Naphthenic acids are a complex mixture of organic compounds which naturally occur in crude oil. Low molecular weight components of the naphthenic acids are known to be toxic in aquatic environments and there is a need to better understand the factors controlling the kinetics of their biodegradation. In this study, a relatively low molecular weight naphthenic acid compound (trans-isomer of 4-methyl-1-cyclohexane carboxylic acid) and a microbial culture developed in our laboratory were used to study the biodegradation of this naphthenic acid and to evaluate the kinetics of the process in batch cultures.

Growth kinetics of Chlorella vulgaris and its use as a cathodic half cell.

The kinetics of growth of the algal species Chlorella vulgaris has been investigated using CO(2) as the growth substrate. The growth rate was found to increase as the dissolved CO(2) increased to 150 mg/L, but fell dramatically at higher concentrations. Increasing the radiant flux also increased growth rate.

Closure effects on oxygen transfer and aerobic growth in shake flasks.

Oxygen mass transfer in shake flasks is an important aspect limiting the culture of aerobic microorganisms. In this work, mass transfer of oxygen through a closure and headspace of shake flasks is investigated. New equations for prediction of kGa in shake flasks with closures are introduced.

Mass transfer and bioremediation of naphthalene particles in a roller bioreactor.

Naphthalene particles in a water slurry have been bioremediated in a sealed, roller bioreactor using a pure strain of Pseudomonas putida. High stripping losses of particles due to both splashing and aeration made the use of the traditional CSTR bioreactor unsuitable for bioremediation of naphthalene particles. The overall dissolution mass transfer coefficient of naphthalene particles in the roller bioreactor was low, 0.