Estimating the cellular maintenance coefficient and its use in the design of two-phase partitioning bioscrubbers

One of the key roles of an organic solvent has emerged to be the enhancement of oxygen transfer in two-phase partitioning bioscrubbers (TPPBs). In order to determine an optimum organic fraction for a given VOCs loading, the oxygen demand of the total cell mass must be estimated, which depends upon the magnitude of the cellular maintenance coefficient. We have estimated the dynamics of the maintenance coefficient for benzene degradation by Achromobacter xylosoxidans Y234 in a TPPB and found that the maintenance coefficient generally decreased as cells accumulated in the TPPB but converged to a specific value of 1.750 × 10⁻² h⁻¹ at biological steady state. Due to its important influence on all of the essential design parameters of the TPPB system, including optimum organic fraction, aeration rate and agitation speed, the maintenance coefficient should be considered as a key biological determinant for microorganism selection, as well as in overall TPPB design.     

A two‐phase partitioning airlift bioreactor for the treatment of BTEX contaminated gases

This investigation characterizes a novel 11 L airlift two‐phase partitioning bioreactor (TPPB) for the treatment of gases contaminated with a mixture of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and o‐xylene (BTEX). The application of the TPPB technology in an airlift bioreactor configuration provides a novel technology that reduces energy intensity relative to traditional stirred tank TPPB configurations. The addition of a solid second phase of silicone rubber beads (10%, v/v) or of a liquid second phase of silicone oil (10%, v/v) resulted in enhanced performance of the airlift bioreactor relative to the single phase case, with 20% more BTEX being removed from the gas phase during an imposed transient loading. During a 4 h loading step change of three times the nominal loading (60 g m^?3 h^?1), overall removal efficiencies for the airlift TPPBs containing a liquid or solid phase remained above 75%, whereas the single phase airlift had an overall removal efficiency of 47.1%. The airlift TPPB containing a silicone rubber second phase was further characterized by testing performance during steady‐state operation over a range of loadings and inlet gas flow rates in the form of a 3² factorial experimental design. Optimal operating conditions that avoid oxygen limitations and that still have a slow enough gas flow rate for sufficient BTEX transfer from the gas phase to the working volume are identified. The novel solid–liquid airlift TPPB reduces energy inputs relative to stirred tank designs while being able to eliminate large amounts of BTEX during both steady‐state and fluctuating loading conditions. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009;103: 1077–1086. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Application of solid–liquid TPPBs to the production of L‐phenylacetylcarbinol from benzaldehyde using Candida utilis

The biotransformation of benzaldehyde and glucose to L ‐phenylacetylcarbinol (PAC) using Candida utilis was demonstrated in a solid–liquid two‐phase partitioning bioreactor (TPPB) with the aim of reducing substrate, product, and by‐product toxicity via sequestration. Previous work in the field had used octanol as the sequestering phase of liquid–liquid TPPBs but was limited by the toxic effects of octanol on C. utilis. To improve solvent selection in any future studies, the critical log P of C. utilis was determined in the current study to be 4.8 and can be used to predict biocompatible solvents. Bioavailability tests showed alkanes and alkenes to be non‐bioavailable. As polymers are biocompatible and non‐bioavailable, a wide range of commercially available polymers was screened and it was demonstrated that polymer softness plays a key role in absorptive capability. The polymer Hytrel G3548L was selected as the second phase to sequester benzaldehyde, PAC, and benzyl alcohol, with partition coefficients of 35, 7.5, and 10, respectively. With a 9% by volume partitioning phase, 13.6 g/L biomass of C. utilis achieved an overall PAC concentration of 11 g/L, a 1.9‐fold improvement over the single‐phase case. Benzyl alcohol concentration was 4.5 g/L, a 1.6‐fold reduction. The volumetric productivity was 0.85 g/L h, a 1.2‐fold improvement over the single‐phase system. These results demonstrate a promising starting point for solid–liquid TPPBs for PAC production. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010;107:633–641. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Enhanced biodegradation of phenol by a microbial consortium in a solid–liquid two phase partitioning bioreactor

Two phase partitioning bioreactors (TPPBs) operate by partitioning toxic substrates to or from an aqueous, cell-containing phase by means of second immiscible phase. Uptake of toxic substrates by the second phase effectively reduces their concentration within the aqueous phase to sub-inhibitory levels, and transfer of molecules between the phases to maintain equilibrium results in the continual feeding of substrate based on the metabolic demand of the microorganisms. Conventionally, a single pure species of microorganism, and a pure organic solvent, have been used in TPPBs. The present work has demonstrated the benefits of using a mixed microbial population for the degradation of phenol in a TPPB that uses solid polymer beads (comprised of ethylene vinyl acetate, or EVA) as the second phase. Polymer modification via an increase in vinyl acetate concentration was also shown to increase phenol uptake. Microbial consortia were isolated from three biological sources and, based on an evaluation of their kinetic performance, a superior consortium was chosen that offered improved degradation when compared to a pure strain of Pseudomonas putida ATCC 11172. The new microbial consortium used within a TPPB was capable of degrading high concentrations of phenol (2000mgl^–1), with decreased lag time (10h) and increased specific rate of phenol degradation (0.71g phenolg^–1cellh). Investigation of the four-member consortium showed that it consisted of two Pseudomonas sp., and two Acinetobacter sp., and tests conducted upon the individual isolates, as well as paired organisms, confirmed the synergistic benefit of their existence within the consortium. The enhanced effects of the use of a microbial consortium now offer improved degradation of phenol, and open the possibility of the degradation of multiple toxic substrates via a polymer-mediated TPPB system.     

Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a two-phase partitioning bioreactor in the presence of a bioavailable solvent

Mycobacterium PYR-1 was used in a two-phase partitioning bioreactor (TPPB) to degrade low and high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. TPPBs are characterized by a cell-containing aqueous phase, and an immiscible and biocompatible organic phase that partitions toxic substrates to the cells based on their metabolic demand and the thermodynamic equilibrium of the system. A bioavailable solvent, that is, a solvent usable as a carbon source, was used as the organic layer. Although bioavailable solvents are traditionally deemed unsuitable for use in TPPBs, bis(ethylhexyl) sebacate had superior chemical properties to other solvents examined and was cost-effective. In this system, 1 g of phenanthrene and 1 g of pyrene were completely degraded within 4 days, at rates of 168 mg l(-1) day(-1) and 138 mg l(-1 )day(-1), respectively, based on a 3-l aqueous volume. This is the highest pyrene degradation rate reported in the literature to date. Significant degradation of naphthalene and anthracene was also obtained. This work demonstrates that bioavailable solvents can be successfully used in TPPB systems, and may change the protocols commonly used to select solvents for TPPBs in the future.     

Two-phase partitioning bioreactors for treatment of volatile organic compounds

Two-phase partitioning bioreactors (TPPBs) allow the biological removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from contaminated gas streams at unprecedented rates and concentrations. TPPBs are constructed by adding a non-aqueous phase (e.g. hexadecane, silicone oil) to an aqueous phase that contains the microorganisms responsible for degrading the VOCs. Presence of a water-immiscible phase improves the transfer of hydrophobic substrates (e.g. hexane, oxygen) or reduces the toxicity of inhibitory substances (e.g. benzene, toluene) to the microorganisms present in the aqueous phase. The non-aqueous phase is selected based on cost, safety, good partitioning properties towards the target pollutants, biocompatibility, and non-biodegradability. TPPBs have hitherto been designed as laboratory-scale well-mixed stirred-tank reactors or as biofilters that contain a non-aqueous phase. Scale-up and industrial use of TPPBs require elucidation and modeling of the mechanisms of substrate transfer and uptake; understanding of the mechanisms of microbial selection; identification or synthesis of new inexpensive and robust non-aqueous phases; and generation of suitable guidelines for process design and control.     

Recent advances in two-phase partitioning bioreactors for the treatment of volatile organic compounds

Biological processes are considered to be the most cost-effective technology for the off-gas treatment of volatile organic compounds (VOC) at low concentrations. Two-phase partitioning bioreactors (TPPBs) emerged in the early 1990s as innovative multiphase systems capable of overcoming some of the key limitations of traditional biological technologies such as the low mass transfer rates of hydrophobic VOCs and microbial inhibition at high VOC loading rates. Intensive research carried out in the last 5 years has helped to provide a better understanding of the mass transfer phenomena and VOC uptake mechanisms in TPPBs, which has significantly improved the VOC biodegradation processes utilizing this technology platform. This work presents an updated state-of-the-art review on the advances of TPPB technology for air pollution control. The most recent insights regarding non-aqueous phase (NAP) selection, microbiology, reactor design, mathematical modeling and case studies are critically reviewed and discussed. Finally, the key research issues required to move towards the development of efficient and stable full-scale VOC biodegradation processes in TPPBs are identified.     

Enhanced Degradation of a Mixture of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons by a Defined Microbial Consortium in a Two-Phase Partitioning Bioreactor

Biological treatment methods are effective at destroying polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and some of the highest rates of PAH degradation have been achieved using two-phase-partitioning bioreactors (TPPBs). TPPBs consist of a cell-containing aqueous phase and a biocompatible and immiscible organic phase that partitions toxic and/or recalcitrant substrates to the cells based on their metabolic demand and on maintaining the thermodynamic equilibrium of the system. In this study, the degradation of a 5-component mixture of high and low molecular weight PAHs by a defined microbial consortium of Sphingomonas aromaticivorans B0695 and Sphingomonas paucimobilis EPA505 in a TPPB was examined. The extremely low aqueous solubilities of the high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs significantly reduce their bioavailability to cells, not only in the environment, but in TPPBs as well. That is, in the two-phase system, the originally selected solvent, dodecane, was found to sequester the HMW PAHs from the cells in the aqueous phase due to the inherent high solubility of the hydrophobic compounds in this solvent. To circumvent this limitation, the initial PAH concentrations in dodecane were increased to sufficient levels in the aqueous phase to support degradation: LMW PAHs (naphthalene, phenanthrene) and fluoranthene were degraded completely in 8 h, while the HMW PAHs, pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene, were degraded by 64% and 11%, at rates of 42.9 mg l⁻¹ d⁻¹ and 7.5 mg l⁻¹ d⁻¹, respectively. Silicone oil has superior PAH partitioning abilities compared to dodecane for the HMW PAHs, and was used to improve the extent of degradation for the PAH mixture. Although silicone oil increased the bioavailability of the HMW PAHs and greater extents of biodegradation were observed, the rates of degradation were lower than that obtained in the TPPB employing dodecane.     

A comparative study of solid and liquid non‐aqueous phases for the biodegradation of hexane in two‐phase partitioning bioreactors

A comparative study of the performance of solid and liquid non‐aqueous phases (NAPs) to enhance the mass transfer and biodegradation of hexane by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in two‐phase partitioning bioreactors (TPPBs) was undertaken. A preliminary NAP screening was thus carried out among the most common solid and liquid NAPs used in pollutant biodegradation. The polymer Kraton G1657 (solid) and the liquid silicone oils SO20 and SO200 were selected from this screening based on their biocompatibility, resistance to microbial attack, non‐volatility and high affinity for hexane (low partition coefficient: K = C_g/C_NAP, where C_g and C_NAP represent the pollutant concentration in the gas phase and NAP, respectively). Despite the three NAPs exhibited a similar affinity for hexane (K ≈ 0.0058), SO200 and SO20 showed a superior performance to Kraton G1657 in terms of hexane mass transfer and biodegradation enhancement. The enhanced performance of SO200 and SO20 could be explained by both the low interfacial area of this solid polymer (as a result of the large size of commercial beads) and by the interference of water on hexane transfer (observed in this work). When Kraton G1657 (20%) was tested in a TPPB inoculated with P. aeruginosa, steady state elimination capacities (ECs) of 5.6 ± 0.6 g m^?3 h^?1 were achieved. These values were similar to those obtained in the absence of a NAP but lower compared to the ECs recorded in the presence of 20% of SO200 (10.6 ± 0.9 g m^?3 h^?1). Finally, this study showed that the enhancement in the transfer of hexane supported by SO200 was attenuated by limitations in microbial activity, as shown by the fact that the ECs in biotic systems were far lower than the maximum hexane transfer capacity recorded under abiotic conditions. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010;106: 731–740. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Dynamic simulation of benzene vapor treatment by a two-phase partitioning bioscrubber: Part II: Model calibration,validation, and predictions

The two-phase partitioning bioscrubber (TPPB) model presented in Part I has been validated using experimental data under constant and transient operating conditions for the treatment of benzene waste gases by Achromobacter xylosoxidans Y234 with n-hexadecane as an immiscible, organic phase. Model calibration was performed to account for observed enhancements of benzene biodegradation rates in biphasic media, postulating that direct benzene uptake from dispersed organic droplets increased substrate bioavailability. This led to the use of an ‘effective dissolved substrate concentration’ to model cell specific growth rates. Model predictions were greatly improved using this empirical modification. The characteristics of the organic phase, both in terms of the volume fraction selected and its high equilibrium solubility, are found to be of critical importance for minimizing effluent gas VOC concentrations and stabilizing performance during transient operation. The biokinetic parameters μ_max and K_S are also particularly important, greatly influencing the response of the TPPB both during and while recovering from transient periods. K_S was found to be important for influencing steady-state benzene removal efficiencies under even invariant operation, leading to the conclusion that microorganisms which can maintain high rates of biological activity under very dilute substrate concentrations will make ideal biocatalysts in the TPPB.     

Phosphonium ionic liquids for degradation of phenol in a two-phase partitioning bioreactor

Six ionic liquids (ILs), which are organic salts that are liquid at room temperature, were tested for their biocompatibility with three xenobiotic-degrading bacteria, Pseudomonas putida, Achromobacter xylosoxidans, and Sphingomonas aromaticivorans. Of the 18 pairings, seven were found to demonstrate biocompatibility, with one IL (trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) amide) being biocompatible with all three organisms. This IL was then used in a two-phase partitioning bioreactor (TPPB), consisting of 1 l aqueous phase loaded with 1,580 mg phenol and 0.25 l IL, inoculated with the phenol degrader P. putida. This initially toxic aqueous level of phenol was substantially reduced by phenol partitioning into the IL phase, allowing the cells to utilize the reduced phenol concentration. The partitioning of phenol from the IL to the aqueous phase was driven by cellular demand and thermodynamic equilibrium. All of the phenol was consumed at a rate comparable to that of previously used organic-aqueous TPPB systems, demonstrating the first successful use of an IL with a cell-based system. A quantitative ³¹P NMR spectroscopic assay for estimating the log P values of ILs is under development.     

Polymer selection for biphenyl degradation in a solid-liquid two-phase partitioning bioreactor

The commercially available thermoplastic polymer Hytrel was selected as the delivery phase for the hydrophobic model compound biphenyl in a solid-liquid two-phase partitioning bioreactor (TPPB), and 2.9 g biphenyl could successfully be degraded in 1-L TPPBs by a pure culture of the biphenyl-degrading bacterium Burkholderia xenovorans LB400 in 50 h and by a mixed microbial consortium isolated from contaminated soil in 45 h. TPPBs consist of an aqueous cell-containing phase and an immiscible second phase that partitions toxic and/or poorly soluble substrates (in this case biphenyl) on the basis of maintaining a thermodynamic equilibrium. This paper illustrates a rational strategy for selecting a suitable solid polymeric substance for the delivery of the poorly water-soluble model compound biphenyl. The partitioning of biphenyl between the selected polymers and water was analogous to partitioning of solutes between two immiscible liquid phases. The partitioning coefficients varied between 180 for Nylon 6.6 and 11,000 for Desmopan, where the later numerical value is comparable to biphenyl partitioning coefficients between water and organic solvents. Employing a solid delivery phase enabled the utilization of a surfactant-producing microbial mixed culture, which could not be cultivated in liquid-liquid TPPBs and thereby extended the range of biocatalysts that can be employed in TPPBs.     

The use of Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 43560 in the development of a two-phase partitioning bioreactor for the destruction of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-s-triazine (RDX)

Research on the biodegradation of explosives has focussed exclusively on the treatment of contaminated soil and water. In the present work the anaerobic degradation of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-s-triazine (RDX) by Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 43560 was investigated, and a two-phase partitioning bioreactor (TPPB) was developed for the destruction of pure, past-date munitions. TPPBs are characterized by a cell-containing aqueous phase, and an immiscible and biocompatible organic phase into which very large amounts of toxic and/or insoluble substrates can be dissolved. Based on equilibrium partitioning, the substrate is then transported to the cells, in response to their metabolic requirements, providing a means of demand-based substrate delivery, and high bioreactor productivity. Through consideration of the critical logP of E. cloacae, whether various classes of solvents could be used as sole carbon and energy sources, the capacity of various organics to dissolve RDX, and solvent cost, 2-undecanone was ultimately selected as the delivery solvent for the TPPB. Using this solvent, both batch and fed-batch operation of the TPPB were undertaken, and the volumetric degradation rate of RDX was found to be higher in this arrangement than any previous values reported in the literature. This work has demonstrated the potential of a method for the destruction of decommissioned munitions involving the dissolution of RDX in 2-undecanone, the use of the RDX-rich solvent as the second phase in a TPPB to degrade this explosive, and the subsequent recycling and re-use of the solvent.     

Modeling of crude oil biodegradation using two phase partitioning bioreactor

In this work, crude oil biodegradation has been optimized in a solid‐liquid two phase partitioning bioreactor (TPPB) by applying a response surface methodology based d ‐optimal design. Three key factors including phase ratio, substrate concentration in solid organic phase, and sodium chloride concentration in aqueous phase were taken as independent variables, while the efficiency of the biodegradation of absorbed crude oil on polymer beads was considered to be the dependent variable. Commercial thermoplastic polyurethane (Desmopan®) was used as the solid phase in the TPPB. The designed experiments were carried out batch wise using a mixed acclimatized bacterial consortium. Optimum combinations of key factors with a statistically significant cubic model were used to maximize biodegradation in the TPPB. The validity of the model was successfully verified by the good agreement between the model‐predicted and experimental results. When applying the optimum parameters, gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry showed a significant reduction in n‐alkanes and low molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. This consequently highlights the practical applicability of TPPB in crude oil biodegradation. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 30:797–805, 2014     

Biodegradation of a phenolic mixture in a solid–liquid two-phase partitioning bioreactor

A solid–liquid two-phase partitioning bioreactor (TPPB) in which the non-aqueous phase consisted of polymer (HYTREL) beads was used to degrade a model mixture of phenols [phenol, o-cresol, and 4-chlorophenol (4CP)] by a microbial consortium. In one set of experiments, high concentrations (850 mg l⁻¹ of each of the three substrates) were reduced to sub-inhibitory levels within 45 min by the addition of the polymer beads, followed by inoculation and rapid (8 h) consumption of the total phenolics loading. In a second set of experiments, the beneficial effect of using polymer beads to launch a fermentation inhibited by high substrate concentrations was demonstrated by adding 1,300 and 2,000 mg l⁻¹ total substrates (equal concentrations of each phenolic) to a pre-inoculated bioreactor. At these levels, no cell growth and no degradation were observed; however, after adding polymer beads to the systems, the ensuing reduced substrate concentrations permitted complete destruction of the target molecules, demonstrating the essential role played by the polymer sequestering phase when applied to systems facing inhibitory substrate concentrations. In addition to establishing alternative modes of TPPB operation, the present work has demonstrated the differential partitioning of phenols in a mixture between the aqueous and polymeric phases. The polymeric phase was also observed to absorb a degradation intermediate (arising from the incomplete biodegradation of 4CP), which opens the possibility of using solid–liquid TPPBs during biosynthetic transformation to sequester metabolic byproducts.     

Transient performance of two-phase partitioning bioreactors treating a toluene contaminated gas stream

Two-phase partitioning bioreactors (TPPBs) consist of a cell-containing aqueous phase and an immiscible organic phase that sequesters and delivers toxic substrates to cells based on equilibrium partitioning. The immiscible organic phase, which acts as a buffer for inhibitory substrate loadings, makes it possible for TPPBs to handle high volatile organic compound (VOC) loadings, and in this study the performance of liquid n-hexadecane and solid styrene butadiene (SB) polymer beads used as partitioning phases were compared to a single aqueous phase system while treating transient loadings of a toluene contaminated air stream by Achromobacter xylosoxidans Y234. The TPPBs operated as well-mixed stirred tanks, with total working volumes of 3 L (3 L aqueous for the single-phase system, 2 L aqueous and 1 L n-hexadecane for the solvent system, and 2.518 L aqueous volume and 500 g of SB beads for the polymer system). Two 60-min step changes (7 and 17 times the nominal loading rates, termed "small" and "large" steps, respectively) were imposed on the systems and the performance was characterized by the overall removal efficiencies, instantaneous removal efficiency recovery times (above 95% removal), and dissolved oxygen recovery times. For the small steps, with a nominal loading of 343 g/m3/h increasing to 2,400 g/m3/h, the TPPB system using n-hexadecane as the second phase performed best, removing 97% of the toluene fed to the system compared with 90% for the polymer beads system and only 69% for the single-phase system. The imposed large transient gave similar results, although the impact of the presence of a second sequestering phase was more pronounced, with the n-hexadecane system maintaining much reduced aqueous toluene concentrations leading to significantly improved performance. This investigation also showed that the presence of both n-hexadecane and SB beads improved the oxygen transfer within the systems.     

Bioproduction of benzaldehyde in a solid–liquid two-phase partitioning bioreactor using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pichia pastoris</Emphasis>

The bioproduction of benzaldehyde from benzyl alcohol using Pichia pastoris was examined in a solid–liquid two-phase partitioning bioreactor (TPPB) to reduce substrate and product inhibition. Rational polymer selection identified Elvax 40W as an effective sequestering phase, possessing partition coefficients for benzyl alcohol and benzaldehyde of 3.5 and 35.4, respectively. The use of Elvax 40W increased the overall mass of benzaldehyde produced by approx. 300% in a 5 l bioreactor, relative to a single phase biotransformation. The two-phase system had a molar yield of 0.99, indicating that only minor losses occurred. These results provide a promising starting point for solid–liquid TPPBs to enhance benzaldehyde production, and suggest that multiple, targeted polymers may provide relief for transformations characterized by multiple inhibitory substrates/product/by-products.     

Degradation of xenobiotics in a partitioning bioreactor in which the partitioning phase is a polymer

Two-phase partitioning bioreactors (TPPBs) are characterized by a cell-containing aqueous phase and a second immiscible phase that contains toxic and/or hydrophobic substrates that partition to the cells at subinhibitory levels in response to the metabolic demand of the organisms. To date, the delivery phase in TPPBs has been a hydrophobic solvent that traditionally needed to possess a variety of important properties including biocompatibility, nonbioavailability, low volatility, and low cost, among others. In the present work we have shown that the organic solvent phase can be replaced by inexpensive polymer beads that function in a similar fashion as organic solvents, delivering a toxic substrate to cells based on equilibrium considerations. Specifically, 3.4 mm diameter beads of poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVA) were used to reduce the aqueous concentration of phenol in a bioreactor from toxic levels ( approximately 2,000 mg/L) to subinhibitory levels ( approximately 750 mg/L), after which Pseudomonas putida ATCC 11172 was added to the system and allowed to consume the total phenol loading. Thus, the beads absorbed the toxic substrate and released it to the cells on demand. The EVA beads, which could be reused, were able to absorb 14 mg phenol/g EVA. This work has opened the possibility of using widely mixed cultures in TPPB systems without concern for degradation of the delivery material and without concern of contamination.     

The treatment of gaseous benzene by two-phase partitioning bioreactors: a high performance alternative to the use of biofilters

A 2-l (1-l working volume) two-phase partitioning bioreactor (TPPB) was used as an integrated scrubber/bioreactor in which the removal and destruction of benzene from a gas stream was achieved by the reactor's organic/aqueous liquid contents. The organic solvent used to trap benzene was n-hexadecane, and degradation of benzene was achieved in the aqueous phase using the bacterium Alcaligenes xylosoxidans Y234. A gas stream with a benzene concentration of 340 mg l(-1) at a flow rate of 0.414 l h(-1) was delivered to the system at a loading capacity of 140 g m(-3) h(-1), and an elimination capacity of 133 g m(-3 )h(-1) was achieved (the volume in this term is the total liquid volume of the TPPB). This elimination capacity is between 3 and 13 times greater than any benzene elimination achieved by biofiltration, a competing biological air treatment strategy. It was also determined that the evaluation of TPPB performance in terms of elimination capacity should include the cell mass present in the system, as this is a readily controllable quantity. A specific benzene utilization rate of 0.57 g benzene (g cells)(-1) h(-1) was experimentally determined in a bioreactor with a cell concentration that varied dynamically between 0.2 and 1 g l(-1). If it assumed that this specific benzene utilization rate (0.57 g g(-1) h(-1)) is independent of cell concentration, then a TPPB operated at high cell concentrations could potentially achieve elimination capacities several hundred times greater than those obtained with biofilters.     

Polymer development for enhanced delivery of phenol in a solid-liquid two-phase partitioning bioreactor

Two-Phase Partitioning Bioreactors (TPPBs) have traditionally been used to partition toxic concentrations of xenobiotics from a cell-containing aqueous phase by means of an immiscible organic solvent and to deliver these substrates back to the cells on the basis of metabolic demand and the maintenance of thermodynamic equilibrium between the phases. A limitation of TPPBs, which use organic liquid solvents, is the possibility that the solvent can be bioavailable, and this has therefore limited organic liquid TPPBs to the use of pure strains of microbes. Solid polymer beads have recently been introduced as a replacement for liquid organic solvents, offering similar absorption properties but with the capability to be used with mixed microbial populations. The present work was aimed at identifying a polymer with a greater capacity for and more rapid uptake and release of phenol for use as the second phase in a mixed culture TPPB. Polarity and hydrogen bonding capabilities between polymer and phenol were considered in the screening and selection process of candidate polymers. Hytrel (a copolymer of poly(butylene terephthalate) and butylene ether glycol terephthalate) polymer beads, offered improved capacity (19 mg phenol/g polymer at a fixed initial phenol concentration of 2000 mg/L) and a greater diffusivity (1.54 x 10(-7) cm2/s) when compared to the capacity and diffusivity of previously used EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) beads (12.4 mg phenol/g polymer and 3.73 x 10(-9) cm2/s, respectively). Hytrel polymer beads were then used in a TPPB for the investigation of various substrate feeding strategies (fed-batch, bead replacement, and concentrated spikes of phenol), with rapid and complete phenol degradation shown in all cases.