Substrate-substrate interaction of resorcinol and catechol in upflow anaerobic fixed film - fixed bed reactors in mono and multisubstrate matrices

Biodegradation of resorcinol and catechol was studied in upflow anaerobic f ixed film-fixed bed (FFFB) reactors of uniform dimensions in mono and multi substrate matrices. Cross feeding studies have revealed that phenol was poo rly degraded in resorcinol acclimated reactor whereas it was readily degrad ed in catechol acclimated reactor. Addition of resorcinol along with phenol in a COD ratio 1:3 in resorcinol reactor increased phenol removal efficien cy to 95% indicating that resorcinol induces phenol degradation. When both resorcinol and catechol were fed to the resorcinol acclimated reactor, it w as observed that resorcinol degradation was inhibited by catechol. Caterhol acclimated reactor could degrade phenol readily when added as mono substra te indicating that it may be an intermediate in catechol degradation. In bi nary mixture studies also catechol reactor could degrade phenol, resorcinol and hydroquinone to 90%. Catechol acclimated reactor exhibits relaxed subs trate specificity whereas resorcinol acclimated reactor exhibits rigid subs trate specificity for phenol as well as other isomers.