Abstract
Laboratory-scale biofilm reactors simulating a full-scale nitrification filter were challenged with xenobiotic contaminants frequently encountered in water supplies. Phenol and mono- and dichlorophenols were removed immediately (by up to 92 percent), with increasing influent concentration reducing the percentage removal. Trichlorophenols were not biodegraded. Mono- and dichlorobenzenes were also removed (up to 81 percent), but an enzyme-induction period of 8-20 h was required biodegradation became significant. In many cases, feeding of an easily degraded organic substrate (acetate) increased removals of the xenobiotics by a relatively small amount. This result suggests that unidentified background organic material and soluble microbial products generated by nitrifying bacteria allow the accumulation of bacteria able to degrade a range of xenobiotic compounds.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 152-157 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Journal / American Water Works Association |
Volume | 84 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 1992 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Chemistry(all)
- Water Science and Technology