The effects of acetone shock loading on phenol acclimated cultures

Abstract

The possibility of acetone shock loadings to phenol acclimated systems resulting in sequential substrate utilization and increased effluent phenol concentrations was evaluated. Phenol acclimated batch and continuous-flow systems, developed with seed from a municipal wastewater treatment plant, were shock loaded with acetone, bacto-peptone, and domestic primary effluent. Phenol and acetone utilization rates were then monitored using direct injection gas-liquid chromatography. The results of the investigation indicated that, under the described experimental conditions, qualitative shock loading of phenol acclimated/utilizing cultures had no significant effect on effluent phenol concentrations. Variations of system pH, however, were found to have extreme effects.