Biodegradation and Metabolism of Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) in the Bioaugmented Activated Sludge Batch Bioreactor System by Heterotrophic and Nitrifying Bacteria.

  Tetrabromobisphenol A [2,4'-isopropylidenebis(2,6-dibromophenol)] has been identified in wastewater samples collected from the Guelph municipal wastewater treatment plant (GWWTP). In order to assess the kinetics and metabolic mechanisms of the dissolved TBBPA, bench scale experiments were completed with batch bioreactors. The biodegradation test was conducted by taking aerobic sludge from the conventional activated sludge reactor (CAS) and membrane bioreactor (MBR), and bioaugmenting both reactors with soil based strains of Bacillus brevis and Bacillus pumilus.