DEGRADATION OF CHLORINATED AROMATIC-COMPOUNDS IN UASB REACTORS

Data on anaerobic degradation of chloroaromatic compounds in Upflow An aerobic Sludge Blanket Reactors (UASB-reactor) are presented and compa red. Special attention is given to the metabolic pathways for degradat ion of chlorinated phenols by granular sludge. Results indicate that P CP can be degraded in UASB-reactors via stepwise dechlorination to phe nol. Phenol will subsequently be converted to benzoate before ring cle avage. Dechlorination proceeds via different pathways dependent upon t he inocula used. Results are further presented on the design of specia l metabolic pathways in granules which do not possess this activity us ing the dechlorinating organism, Desulfomonile tiedjei. Additionally, it is shown that it is possible to immobilize Dechlorosporium hafniens e, a newly isolated dechlorinating anaerobe, into granular sludge, the reby introducing an ability not previosly present in the granules.