Nitrate-dependent biodegradation of quinoline, isoquinoline, and 2-methylquinoline by acclimated activated sludge.

The anaerobic degradation of quinoline, isoquinoline and 2-methylquinoline was investigated under nitrate-reducing conditions with acclimated activated sludge. Quinoline was completely transformed during degradation with an optimum COD/NO(3)-N ratio of 7. Isoquinoline and 2-methylquinoline were also completely transformed; however, nitrate consumption was much lower with the optimum COD/NO(3)-N ratios being in the ranges of 83-92 and 21-26, respectively.