Abstract
Tetrahydrofuran (THF) is easy to volatilize and hard to biodegrade. Little is known about the influence and fate of tetrahydrofuran in the environment. The effects of THF were examined on dissolved oxygen, pH, culturable aerobic microbes (bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi) and four selected enzymes (protease, phosphatase, amylase, and lipase) in wastewater. The wastewater containing some activated sludge was taken from the aeration basin in Sibao sewage plant in Hangzhou, China. THF at lower concentrations of enhanced aerobic respiration and higher concentrations decreased utilization of oxygen in wastewater. The short-term influence of THF on pH was not obvious, but the long-term effect was apparent. Inhibition of THF on culturable aerobic microbes rose with increasing THF concentrations but decreased with prolongation of incubation time. No effect of THF on the activity of protease, phosphatase, amylase, and lipase was found. Data indicate that lower concentrations of THF exert no marked influence on wastewater in an urban sewage plant.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.