MODELING THE ROLE OF DISSOLVED OXYGEN-DEPENDENT BACTERIA ON BIODEGRADATION OF ORGANIC POLLUTANTS

Abstract

In this paper, a nonlinear mathematical model is proposed and analyzed to study the role of dissolved oxygen (DO)-dependent bacteria on biodegradation of one or two organic pollutant(s) in a water body. In the case of two organic pollutant(s), it is assumed that the one is fast degrading and the other is slow degrading and both are discharged into the water body from outside with constant rates. The density of bacteria is assumed to follow logistic model and its growth increases due to biodegradation of one or two organic pollutant(s) as well as with the increase in the concentration of DO. The model is analyzed using the stability theory of differential equations and by simulation. The model analysis shows that the concentration(s) of one or both organic pollutant(s) decrease(s) as the density of bacteria increases. It is noted that for very large density of bacteria, the organic pollutant(s) may be removed almost completely from the water body. It is found that simulation analysis confirms the analytical results. The results obtained in this paper are in line with the experimental observations published in literature.