Phenol biodegradation in an aerobic fixed-film process using conductive bioelectrodes: Biokinetic and kinetic studies

The main goal of this article is to present biokinetic of phenol biodegradation in a bioelectrochemical process using steel wool and carbon cloth electrodes. Phenol biodegradation experiments were performed in a batch set up using a plexiglass reactor. Kinetic data were evaluated at pH 7, optimum applied current of 2 mA and laboratory temperature (24 +/- 1 degrees C). Optimum phenol concentration of 250 mg L-1 was considered for determination of biokinetic parameters in Haldane model. The main kinetic parameters such as K, R-2,mu(max), K-s, K-i, Y, b and biofilm density were determined in the bioelectrochemical process. The obtained results showed that the degradation of phenol was following the first order kinetic. Biodegradation and mineralization of phenol were 100% and 95% at 8 h reaction time, respectively. The mu(max),K- (s) and K-i of Haldane model were 0.16 h(-1), 0.26 mg L-1 and 300 mg L-1, respectively. The yield factor and decay coefficient were achieved 0.324 mg VSS/mg phenol and 0.117 d(-1), respectively. The obtained experimental data indicate that the Halden model is applicable for the biokinetic behaviour description of phenol degradation in bioelectrochemical system.