Simple models for the continuous aerobic biodegradation of phenol in a packed bed reactor

Abstract

This paper proposes the use of a preliminary, phenol removal step to reduce peak loads arriving at a conventional effluent plant. A packed bed reactor (PBR) using polyurethane foam, porous glass and also cocoa fibres as the inert support material was used. Experiments have been carried out where the flow-rates, plus inlet and outlet phenol concentrations were measured. A simple, plug-flow model is proposed to represent the results. Zero, first order, Monod and inhibited kinetics rate equations were evaluated. It was found that the Monod model gave the best fit to the experimental data and allowed linear graphs to be plotted. The Monod saturation constant, K, is approximately 50 g m-3, and ka is around 900 s-1.