Effects of anilines and hydantoins on the methanogenic degradation of selected phenols

Abstract

Five anilines and two hydantoins commonly found in coal conversion wastewaters were evaluated in batch culture, serum bottle tests to determine whether they inhibited phenol- or p-cresoldegrading methanogenic cultures. Working with individual compounds, phenol degradation and subsequent methanogenesis were not affected by 29 mg/l N-methylaniline, 97 mg/l aniline, 300 mg/1 o-methylaniline, 300 mg/1 m-methylaniline or 300 mg/1 p-methylaniline. Neither p-cresol degradation or subsequent methanogenesis was affected by 500 mg/1 hydantoin or 500 mg/l 5,5-dimethylhydantoin. Extended incubation periods showed that none of the three isomers of ring substituted methyl anilines and neither of the two hydantoins were readily degraded to methane.