Kinetics of biodegradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate in the presence of glucose

Biodegradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate (2,4-D) and glucose were studied using a 2,4-D acclimated culture. Biodegradation of glucose by the 2,4-D preacclimated culture follows the typical Monod kinetics after a 20-h lag period in the presence or absence of 2,4-D. Biodegradation of 2,4-D by the same culture follows Andrew's "substrate inhibition" model. When both glucose and 2,4-D are available, mutual inhibition is observed. However, the effect on 2,4-D is masked by the fact that larger concentrations of active biomass are produced when glucose is available. This kind of concurrent utilization and interaction results in a substantial reduction of the mean cell residence time in a continuous flow system. It also extends the area of stability of the process into higher dilution rates as well as into higher influent concentrations.