ISSN:
0138-4988
Keywords:
Life Sciences
;
Life Sciences (general)
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Process Engineering, Biotechnology, Nutrition Technology
Notes:
The present paper describes the continuous aerobic cultivation of a Pseudomonas strain with toluene as the substrate in a closed chemostat with oxygen or air as the gas phase. Due to the constant supply of a nitrogen-saturated aqueous medium, nitrogen passes from the liquid phase of the chemostat into the gas phase (head space). This results in an increasing nitrogen content (asymptotic approach to 100%). The concomitant decrease in the partial pressure of the oxygen in the gas phase finally leads to an oxygen limitation for the bacteria in the medium and an incomplete toluene degradation. The critical nitrogen content of the gas phase at which oxygen limitation begins depends on the toluene concentration in the incoming medium. However, when the gas is continuously removed from the head space, the nitrogen content reaches a steady-state value of less than 100%, depending on the flow rate of the outgoing gas. The oxygen limitation and the associated incomplete toluene degradation can be prevented in this way. The method of gas removal from the head space to avoid oxygen limitation is also applicable when the reactor is supplied with air instead of oxygen. Waste waters contaminated with highly volatile pollutants can thus be biologically decontaminated under aerobic conditions, without shifting the pollution problem from the liquid to the gas phase.
Additional Material:
7 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/abio.370140306
