2-Chlorophenol consumption and its effect on the nitrifying sludge

Abstract

The kinetic behavior of a nitrifying sludge exposed to 2-chlorophenol (2-CP) was evaluated in batch culture. The assays were performed using a stabilized nitrifying sludge. In control assays with (mg L −1): NH 4 +-N (100) and NaHCO 3 −-C (250), the substrates were consumed in 8 h, the ammonium consumption efficiency was 99% and the NO 3 − yield higher than 0.9. When 5 mg 2-CP-C L −1 was added, it was transformed into an unidentified intermediate and the nitrifying efficiency decreased to 10%. Ammonium specific consumption rate diminished 95%, but the NO 3 − yield remained higher than 0.9. The biomass previously exposed to 2-CP was newly suspended with NH 4 +-N or NO 2 −-N in order to evaluate the ammonium and nitrite oxidizing processes. The consumption efficiencies and NO 3 − yields were similar to those obtained in control assays. However, the total time required for ammonium and nitrite consumption increased to 120 and 42 h, respectively. Specific consumption rates for NH 4 +-N and NO 2 −-N decreased by 95% and 83% respectively, compared to control assays. Thus, the previous contact to 2-CP had more influence on ammonium oxidizing process than the nitrite oxidizing process. These are the first evidences where a nitrifying sludge exposed to 2-CP are reported.