ENHANCEMENT OF THE BIODEGRADATION ACTIVITY BY THE ACCLIMATION OF THE INOCULUM

A respirometric technique to monitor the microbial activity during acc limation is presented. The methodology is based on the carbon dioxide produced during mineralization of organic substrates in a sequencing b atch reactor. Phenol and Q-chlorophenol were used as the source of car bon and energy. Activated sludge was the source of inoculum. The speci fic substrate removal rate and the specific carbon dioxide production rate were correlated. Specific substrate removal rates varied, for phe nol between 80 and 242 mg substrate.(g MLSS.h)(-1) and, for Q-chloroph enol, qav was 115 mg substrate.(g MLSS.h)(-1).A negative influence of starvation periods on the activity of acclimated micro-organisms was o bserved.