Document Type

Thesis

Date of Award

5-31-1992

Degree Name

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

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

First Advisor

Yi-Fang Brook Wu

Second Advisor

Paul N. Cheremisinoff

Abstract

Biological treatment techniques for detoxification of toxic organic compounds have been studied and applied for many years. There are many research and commercial applications proving that the biological method is more economic and efficient than the other treatment methods.

The traditional biomass measurements are time-consuming tasks. Researchers have intended to develop a simpler, faster, and also accurate method for determining the bioactivity. This study has tried to use the microcalorimetric method to monitor the energy productions from the degradation of aniline, 2,4-Dichlorophenol and 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene. Thereafter, by utilizing the data obtained from the present study, it was possible to compute kinetic constants such as µE , Kc, Ki and N of a substrate inhibition model which in turn can precisely determine the order of biodegradability of these three target compounds. Moreover, these constants can serve as a database of designing the hazardous wastewater treatment plant. The other objective of this study was to understand the effect of toxic substance concentration on cell decay rate expressed by the reduction of cell energy production. This study concluded that when the substrate concentration was below the minimum toxicity level, the order of biodegradability is 2,4-DCP > 1,2,4-TCB > aniline. On the contrary, when the substrate concentration was in excess of its toxic level, the order of toxicity of these three organic pollutants is 1,2,4-TCB > aniline > 2,4-DCP.

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