A comparison of the biodegradation of nitrobenzene, 1-butanol, and 2,4-dichlorphenoxyacetic acid using a municipal mixed liquor and three commercial bacterial preparations

Author

Salvatore P. Salerno, New Jersey Institute of Technology

Document Type

Thesis

Date of Award

9-30-1984

Degree Name

Master of Science in Chemical Engineering - (M.S.)

Department

Chemical Engineering and Chemistry

First Advisor

Gordon Lewandowski

Second Advisor

Piero M. Armenante

Third Advisor

Basil Baltzis

Abstract

The biological degradation of nitrobenzene, 1-butanol, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was studied in aerated 6 liter batch reactors using activated sludge from the Livingston, NJ wastewater treatment plant-- by itself and in a 10:1 by volume mixture with each of three commercial bacterial preparations: Hydrobac, BI-CHEM DC-1006/7, and Liquid Live Microorganisms (LLMO). Air stripping and adsorption were determined to be insignificant removal mechanisms for the three compounds studied. None of the bacterial mixtures were able to degrade 10 ppm nitrobenzene to any significant extent. A small but noticeable improvement in degradation rates occurred when the Livingston sludge was mixed with the commercial preparations in a 10:1 volume ratio. However, such a ratio would be economically impractical. At the manufacturer's recommended ratio of 10⁶:1, the mixture would behave like the Livingston sludge alone.

Recommended Citation

Salerno, Salvatore P., "A comparison of the biodegradation of nitrobenzene, 1-butanol, and 2,4-dichlorphenoxyacetic acid using a municipal mixed liquor and three commercial bacterial preparations" (1984). Theses. 2272.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/2272