BTE-OX biodegradation kinetics with MTBE through bioaugmentation

• Published in: Water science and technology 2004-01, Vol.50 (5), p.85-92
• Main Authors: Acuna-Askar, K, Villarreal-Chiu, J F, Gracia-Lozano, M V, Garza-Gonzalez, M T, Chavez-Gomez, B, Rodriguez-Sanchez, I P, Barrera-Saldana, H A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacteria; Benzene; Benzene - metabolism; Benzene Derivatives - metabolism; Biodegradation; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological Assay; Biomass; Biotransformation; Ethylbenzene; Hydrocarbons; Kinetics; Methyl Ethers - metabolism; Models, Biological; MTBE; Poloxalene - pharmacology; Soil Microbiology; Soils; Sterilization; Toluene; Toluene - metabolism; Water Pollution, Chemical; Xylene; Xylenes - metabolism
• ISSN: 0273-1223; 1996-9732
• DOI: 10.2166/wst.2004.0313

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.