Estimation of biodegradation parameters of phenolic compounds on activatedsludge by respirometry

The bio-oxidation of phenol, catechol, resorcinol, m-cresol and 5-methylres orcinol on activated sludge was investigated by oxygen uptake measurements. In addition, the degradation of acetate with the same microbial population was studied. The substrate-dependent oxygen uptake data were analysed on t he basis of the Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The extant kinetic parameters, t he maximum rates of oxygen consumption and half-saturation constants for th e processes with different substrates were determined. The simple respirome tric approach also made it possible to determine the short-term oxygen dema nds of the substrates which formed 23-38% of the theoretical oxygen demand of the studied compounds. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserve d.