Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
Fall 1-31-1996
Degree Name
Master of Science in Chemical Engineering - (M.S.)
Department
Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Environmental Science
First Advisor
Piero M. Armenante
Second Advisor
David Kafkewitz
Third Advisor
Gordon Lewandowski
Abstract
The overall performance of two bioreactors was studied. The reactor with a wood-based activated carbon as a biosupport completely dehalogenated a higher feed concentration of trichlorophenol than that with Manville beads. The carbon reactor was further characterized by the development of adsorption isotherms for most of the class of chlorophenols. Competitive adsorption wag investigated using an anaerobic medium, and a lignite-based carbon was studied for comparison. The order of adsorption strength on both carbons is trichloropenols> dichlorophenols> monochlorophenols, with the wood-based carbon having higher overall adsorption than the lignite-based carbon. The presence of the anaerobic medium decreased the extent of chlorophenol adsorption at lower liquid concentrations.
The investigation of the effect of a biofilm on the adsorption characteristics of the activated carbon showed that the biofilm decreased the rate at which adsorption equilibrium of 4-CP was obtained. However, the equilibrium itself was not effected. It was also determined that the organisms serve as adsorptive material.
Recommended Citation
Colella, Linda S., "Comparison of reductive dehalogenation by microbial populations on adsorptive versus non-adsorptive bioreactor support materials" (1996). Theses. 1088.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/1088
