Degradation of bisphenol A and nonylphenol by nitrifying activated sludge

• DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2007.06.010
• Publication Date: 2007-06-30T11:20:29Z
• Authors: Ji Young Kim; Keungarp Ryu; Eui Jung Kim; Woo Seok Choe; Gi Cheol Cha; Ik-Keun Yoo
• Keywords: 11. Sustainability; 0211 other engineering and technologies; 02 engineering and technology; 6. Clean water

Abstract Nitrifier-enriched activated sludge was used in batch degradation of bisphenol A (BPA) and nonylphenol (NP) to verify if ammonium-oxidizing activity within nitrifiers is responsible for the biodegradation of those compounds. Decreases in both BPA and NP concentrations occurred simultaneously with ammonium (NH 4 + ) oxidation into nitrate (NO 3 − ) by nitrifying sludge. However, when ammonium was replaced by nitrite (NO 2 − ) in the medium, an acclimation period was required prior onset of significant degradation of BPA and NP. In the presence of inhibitors such as allylthiourea or Hg 2 SO 4 , BPA and/or NP reduction decreased significantly, implying that removal of BPA and NP was mostly mediated by biological activity rather than by physicochemical adsorption onto sludge flocs.