Respirometric Multi-Level Biodegradation Testing Protocol and Methodology for Determining Biodegradation Kinetic Data

摘要

Electrolytic respirometry involving natural sewage, sludge and soil microbiota is becoming prominent in fate studies of priority pollutant and RCRA toxic organics to generate biodegradation/inhibition kinetics data. The paper discusses the experimental design and procedural steps for the respirometric biodegradation and toxicity testing approach for individual organics or specific industrial wastes at different concentration levels in a mineral salts medium. A developed multi-level protocol is presented for determination of the biodegradability, microbial acclimation to toxic substrates and first order kinetic parameters of biodegradation for estimation of the Monod kinetic parameter of toxic organic compounds, in order to correlate the extent and rate of biodegradation with a predictive model based on chemical properties and molecular structure of these compounds. Respirometric biodegradation/inhibition and biokinetic data are provided for representative RCRA alkyl, chloro- and nitro-benzenes, phenols and selected CERCLA leachate toxic organics. Data on the effects of the source of sludge biomass, temperature and concentration of microbial inoculum on the kinetics of biodegradation are also included.