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The aim of the present study was to investigate how phenol modifies, through cometabolism, the biodegrading capability of 3-chlorophenol (3-CP) in a sequencing batch reactor seeded with a mixed culture obtained from a domestic sewage treatment plant. Two laboratory-scale SBRs, one fed 3-CP only and the other fed 3-CP and phenol in the same concentration, were seeded with the partially acclimated biomass. The removal capability in both reactors was measured for progressive increases in the feed organic loading. Cometabolism enhanced biodegradation of 3-CP by reducing both the initial lag period and the time required for the complete removal. 700 mg/L 3-CP was demonstrated to be the highest concentration, which could be completely degraded during the active phase (fill plus react) either in the presence or absence of phenol as the growth substrate even though the lag period was shorter when phenol was present. The operating strategy required modification for the complete removal of 800 mg/L 3-CP. An increase in the phenol to 3-CP ratio did, however, improve 3-CP degradation rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper compares the experimental results obtained from a research programme developed on a pilot-scale fluidized bed biofilm reactor and the outputs of a numeric simulation model; the mathematical model can determine the substrate concentration profile within the reactor. The experimental campaign investigated heterotrophic biological denitrification in anoxic conditions. The model is based on multi-substrate Michaelis-Menten kinetics and considers mass transport resistance p phenomena a within and outside bioparticles. A monodimensional model of the reactor taking into consideration, in steady-state condition, phenomena due to convective transport and turbulent diffusion has been used. The fluidization model applied to describe the behaviour of the biofilm-covered rigid particle bed is based on the Wen and Yu correlation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]