Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Comparison of Scale in a Photosynthetic Reactor System for Algal Remediation of Wastewater
Published on: March 6, 2017
Naphthalene biodegradation from non-aqueous-phase liquids in batch and column systems: comparison of biokinetic rate
Mohammed Alshafie1, Subhasis Ghoshal
1Department of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Abstract:
The kinetics of microbial degradation of naphthalene from a two-component non-aqueous-phase liquid (NAPL) coated onto uniformly sized nonporous particles were evaluated in a completely mixed batch reactor (CMBR) system and in flow-through column systems to examine the differences in the biodegradation kinetic coefficients, micro(max), the maximum specific growth rate coefficient, and K(s), the half saturation constant in the two systems. The values of these coefficients were estimated by nonlinear least-squares regression of the naphthalene mineralization profiles obtained from both CMBR and column biodegradation experiments. The results show that the range of values for micro(max) and K(s) obtained from column systems are very similar to the range of values obtained from CMBR systems. This suggests that coefficients estimated from CMBR or column systems are equally applicable for modeling studies. The presence of microorganisms and the development of biofilms at the NAPL-water interface reduced the mass transfer rates of naphthalene from the NAPL by 60% in CMBR and by 70% in column systems. If such changes in mass transfer coefficients are not accounted for, significantly erroneous values of biokinetic coefficients may be obtained.
More Related Videos
05:46Identification of Pharmaceuticals in The Aquatic Environment Using HPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS and Elimination of Erythromycin Through Photo-Induced Degradation
Published on: August 1, 2018
08:43Aerobic Biodegradation Testing of Materials Using a Natural Marine Seawater Inoculum and Closed Loop Respirometer
Published on: October 24, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Column Efficiency: Rate Theory
During elution, a solute molecule experiences numerous transitions between stationary and mobile phases, exhibiting irregular residence times in...
One-Compartment Open Model: Wagner-Nelson and Loo Riegelman Method for ka Estimation
On...
Model-Independent Approaches for Pharmacokinetic Data: Noncompartmental Analysis
One important characteristic of noncompartmental analyses is that drug exposure increases proportionally with increasing doses. This relationship...
Drug Distribution as One-Compartment Model and Elimination by Nonlinear Pharmacokinetics: Overview
For instance, consider the metabolism of sodium salicylate. This compound is metabolized into two distinct substances: a glucuronide and a glycine conjugate. The rate of conjugation depends on...
Nonlinear Pharmacokinetics: Bioavailability and Protein-Drug Binding
To quantify the extent of bioavailability, pharmacologists often use a parameter called .
Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons