BTE-OX biodegradation kinetics with MTBE through bioaugmentation

Water Sci Technol. 2004;50(5):85-92.

Abstract

The biodegradation kinetics of BTE-oX and MTBE, mixed all together, in the presence of bioaugmented bacterial populations as high as 880 mg/L VSS was evaluated. The effect of soil in aqueous samples and the effect of Tergitol NP-10 on substrate biodegradation rates were also evaluated. Biodegradation kinetics was evaluated for 36 hours, every 6 hours. Benzene and o-xylene biodegradation followed a first-order one-phase kinetic model, whereas toluene and ethylbenzene biodegradation was well described by a first-order two-phase kinetic model in all samples. MTBE followed a zero-order removal kinetic model in all samples. The presence of soil in aqueous samples retarded BTE-oX removal rates, with the highest negative effect on o-xylene. The presence of soil enhanced MTBE removal rate. The addition of Tergitol NP-10 to aqueous samples containing soil had a positive effect on substrate removal rate in all samples. Substrate percent removals ranged from 95.4-99.7% for benzene, toluene and ethylbenzene. O-xylene and MTBE percent removals ranged from 55.9-90.1% and 15.6-30.1%, respectively.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Benzene / metabolism*
  • Benzene Derivatives / metabolism*
  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Biological Assay
  • Biomass
  • Biotransformation
  • Kinetics
  • Methyl Ethers / metabolism*
  • Models, Biological
  • Poloxalene / pharmacology
  • Soil Microbiology
  • Sterilization
  • Toluene / metabolism*
  • Water Pollution, Chemical
  • Xylenes / metabolism*

Substances

  • Benzene Derivatives
  • Methyl Ethers
  • Xylenes
  • methyl tert-butyl ether
  • Toluene
  • Poloxalene
  • Benzene
  • ethylbenzene