Interdependence between the aerobic degradation of BPA and readily biodegradable substrates by activated sludge in semi-continuous reactors

FERRO OROZCO A.M.; CONTRERAS E.M.; ZARITZKY N.E.

BIODEGRADATION

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2018

0923-9820

The objectiveof the present work was to analyze the interrelationship between the aerobicdegradation of BPA and readily biodegradable substrates by activated sludge (AS)in semi-continuous reactors (SCRs). AS were obtained from three SCRs fed withglucose, acetate or peptone. AS from these reactors were used as inocula forthree SCRs that were fed with each biogenic substrate, and for three SCRs thatwere fed with the biogenic substrate and BPA. In all cases, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), BPA, total suspendedsolids (TSS) and respirometric measurements were performed. Although BPAcould be removed in the presence of all the tested substrates, AS grown on acetateexhibited the longest acclimation to BPA. Reactors fed with peptone attainedthe lowest TSS concentration; however, these AS had the highest specific BPAdegradation rate. Specific DOC removal rates and respirometricmeasurements demonstrated that the presence of BPA had anegligible effect on the removal of the tested substrates. Amathematical model was developed to represent theevolution of TSS and DOC in the SCRs as a function of the operation cycle. Resultssuggest that the main effect of BPA on AS was to increase the generation ofmicrobial soluble products. This work helps to understand the relationshipbetween the biodegradation of BPA and readily biodegradable substrates.