Kinetics of styrene biodegradation by an industrial activated sludge

The kinetics of the aerobic biodegradation of styrene using an activated sludge obtained from the wastewater treatment plant of a Petrochemical complex in Iran was evaluated. For this purpose synthetic wastewater samples containing styrene in the concentration range 0-123 mg/l were prepared and biodegradation assays were carried out in serum bottles using shake flask cultivation. The styrene concentration in the liquid phase was monitored via determination of styrene concentration in the gas phase of the serum bottles using headspace method. The dependence of specific degradation rate (SDR) on styrene was determined. It was found that Haldane equation adequately predicted the biodegradation of styrene.

کلیدواژه ها:

Styrene ، Biodegradation ، Petrochemical wastewaters ، activated sludge