Title:
Fate and effect of alkyl benzyl dimethyl ammonium chloride in mixed aerobic and nitrifying cultures

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisor Pavlostathis, Spyros G.
dc.contributor.author Yang, Jeongwoo en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMember Ching-Hua Huang
dc.contributor.committeeMember John A. Pierson
dc.contributor.department Civil and Environmental Engineering en_US
dc.date.accessioned 2008-02-07T18:50:25Z
dc.date.available 2008-02-07T18:50:25Z
dc.date.issued 2007-08-27 en_US
dc.description.abstract Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are widely used in commercial and consumer applications as disinfectants, fabric softeners, hair conditioners, and emulsifying agents. The massive production and utilization of QACs has led to their extensive discharge into the environment, raising concerns globally. Several studies have reported on potential risks and detrimental effects of QACs on the natural environment and public wastewater treatment plants. Biological treatment has been found to be an effective way to remove QACs and especially aerobic treatment processes can provide rapid biodegradation via a consortium of bacteria. Although extensive research has been conducted on the fate and effect of QACs, relatively little is known about their effect on aerobic biological treatment processes, especially on nitrification. Research was conducted on the fate and effect of alkyl benzyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (AB), a QAC widely used as disinfectant, in mixed aerobic and nitrifying cultures. The results of this study demonstrated that up to 50 mg/L AB was efficiently degraded in a mixed aerobic culture fed with dextrin and peptone, although trace residual AB levels were observed. Nitrification of the produced ammonia was complete at an AB concentration of 20 mg/L after an acclimation period, but was almost completely inhibited at 50 mg/L. Mixed aerobic cultures maintained only with AB as external nitrogen and carbon source achieved a high degree of AB degradation at both 20 and 50 mg/L. Ammonia oxidation by a nitrifying culture, enriched with ammonium chloride and sodium bicarbonate, was inhibited with increasing AB concentration and completely ceased at 15 mg/L AB. Degradation or utilization of AB was not observed for all tested AB concentrations between 2 to 20 mg/L. Based on these experimental results, and assuming non-competitive inhibition, a relatively low value of the AB inhibition coefficient was obtained, which indicates a relatively high susceptibility of the ammonia oxidizers to AB. The results of this study have significant implications for both engineered and natural systems relative to the fate and effect of QACs. en_US
dc.description.degree M.S. en_US
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/1853/19871
dc.publisher Georgia Institute of Technology en_US
dc.subject QACs en_US
dc.subject Alkyl benzyl dimethyl ammonium chloride en_US
dc.subject Nitrification en_US
dc.subject Biodegradation en_US
dc.subject.lcsh Quaternary ammonium salts
dc.subject.lcsh Environmental aspects
dc.subject.lcsh Nitrification
dc.subject.lcsh Biodegradation
dc.title Fate and effect of alkyl benzyl dimethyl ammonium chloride in mixed aerobic and nitrifying cultures en_US
dc.type Text
dc.type.genre Thesis
dspace.entity.type Publication
local.contributor.advisor Pavlostathis, Spyros G.
local.contributor.corporatename School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
local.contributor.corporatename College of Engineering
relation.isAdvisorOfPublication 4b10037e-c1df-45bc-abca-1da6d3389c46
relation.isOrgUnitOfPublication 88639fad-d3ae-4867-9e7a-7c9e6d2ecc7c
relation.isOrgUnitOfPublication 7c022d60-21d5-497c-b552-95e489a06569
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
jeongwoo_yang_200712_mast.pdf
Size:
1.08 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Collections
Theses and Dissertations