Engineering Commons^™

Biodegradation Of Mixed Wastes : Basic Kinetics And Reaction Engineering For Cyclic Reactor Operation, Kung-Wei Wang

Dissertations

This study dealt with the determination of the detailed kinetics of the biodegradation of mixed substrates by pure cultures, and with reaction engineering studies of bioreactors employed in treatment of substitutable substrates under cyclic operation.

In the first part of the study the degradation of phenol and 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) by two strains of Pseudomonas species was investigated. Strain P. putida 0 was found to be capable of utilizing both phenol and 4-CP as sole carbon and energy sources. This suggests that this strain follows the ortho-cleavage pathway for the aromatic ring. Strain P. putida N could grow on phenol, and …

Oxidation Of Pollutants In A Batch Recirculation Bioreactor With Immobilized Microorganisms, Jongtai Jung

Dissertations

The purpose of this work was to study bio-oxidative destruction of several substrates in an immobilized cell batch bioreactor in recirculation configuration. This system was used in three cases: a series of substrates usually used as monomers, ethylene glycol and its tetramer, and phenol under magnetic irradiation. In addition, kinetic studies were performed and experimental versus predicted results compared.

The substances styrene, methyl methacrylate (MMA), and β-hydroxybutyric acid (HBA), common monomers, were biologically treated using an acclimated mixed microbial community immobilized in calcium alginate gel. A comparison of biodegradation rates (3.3, 9.4, and 15 ppm/hr for styrene, MMA, and HBA, …

Biological Denitrification : Fundamental Kinetic Studies, And Process Analysis For Sequencing Batch Reactor Operation, Jun-Hsien Wang

Dissertations

This study dealt with a detailed investigation of biological denitrification of nitrate and nitrite by a pure culture of Pseudomonas denitrificans (ATCC 13867), under anaerobic conditions.

In the first part of the study, the kinetics of denitrification were studied in serum-bottle experiments. It was found that reduction of both nitrate and nitrite follows inhibitory expressions of the Andrews type. It was also found that when nitrite is present at levels above 15 mg/L, nitrite and nitrate are involved in a cross-inhibitory, non-competitive, interaction pattern. Analysis of the kinetic data has shown that the culture used has severe maintenance requirements, which …

A Combined Gel Entrapped And Membrane Attached Microbial Process For Biodegrading Organic Compounds, Fayaz Saifuddin Lakhwala

Dissertations

A comparative study has been performed between two bioreactors treating phenol, one using calcium alginate entrapped microorganisms, and the other using microorganisms attached on the surface of a polymeric membrane. Laboratory experiments conducted in batch recirculation mode, as well as a continuous feed mode, showed that the calcium alginate bio-bead reactor is more efficient in treating high feed concentrations of phenol, while the membrane bioreactor is more effective in the lower concentration regime (less than 150 ppm). In batch recirculation mode, the reaction rates (expressed as mg phenol/hr*gm dry cells) in the membrane reactor are an order of magnitude higher …

Reactor Design For Hazardous Waste Treatment Using A White Rot Fungus, Daewon Pak

Dissertations

Various nutrient media and reactor configurations have been explored in order to grow the white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium, induce its active enzyme, develop kinetic data for the degradation of 2-chlorophenol, and use chemical engineering analysis to design an efficient reactor.

Preliminary experiments indicated that the biodegradation rate was improved by two to three orders of magnitude when the fungus was immobilized. As a result, emphasis shifted to two types of reactor design: a packed-bed reactor employing a silica-based porous support, and a fluidized-bed reactor employing alginate beads. Both were very effective in degrading 2 chlorophenol at inlet concentrations up …