Abstract

The influence of different types of inocula as well as the amount of inoculum (microbial biomass) on the biodegradation pattern of acetate, 4-nitrophenol, and the three methoxyaniline isomers was investigated in the Modified OECD test and a NPR guidline. Using sediment of the river Rhine as inoculum 4-nitrophenol could not be degraded, while an inoculum from garden soil gave only 60% degradation in the OECD test. Effluent of an activated sludge plant however was able to degrade 4-nitrophenol at a concentration of 19 mg/1 in the OECD test completely. At a concentration of 94 mg/1 no degradation was observed. Testing the methoxyanilines for biodegradability it was found that at a low inoculum level (OECD protocol) no degradation of the three compounds occurred. Using activated sludge (1.5 ml/1) as inoculum 3- and 4-methoxy aniline could be degraded for 60% respectively completely while 2-methoxyaniline was still refactory to degradation. Measuring the microbial biomass by means of ATP during biodegradation strongly suggested that the microbial flora which rapidly metabolize acetate is quite another microflora than the microflora responsible for the degradation of 4-nitrophenol.

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