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Development of a systems analysis approach for resolving the structure of biodegrading soil systems

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Abstract

An experimental and mathematical method is developed for the microbial systems analysis of polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-degrading mixed cultures in PAH-contaminated “town gas” soil systems. Frequency response is the primary experimental and data analysis tool used to probe the structure of these complicated systems. The objective is to provide a fundamental protocol for evaluating the performance of specific mixed microbial cultures on specific soil systems by elucidating the salient system variables and their interactions. Two well-described reactor systems, a constant volume stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and a plug flow differential volume reactor, are used in order to remove performance effects that are related to reactor type as opposed to system structure. These two reactor systems are well-defined systems that can be described mathematically and represent the two extremes of one potentially important system variable, macroscopic mass transfer. The experimental and mathematical structure of the protocol is described, experimental data is presented, and data analysis is demonstrated for the stripping, sorption, and biodegradation of napththalene.

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Abbreviations

CA :

liquid phase concentration of naphthalene mg/L

CB A :

concentration of naphthalene on the biomass mg/cell

CG A :

concentration of naphthalene in the gas phase mg/L

CS A :

concentration of naphthalene on the soil mg/L

Cin :

concentration of naphthalene in the feed mg/L

D:

dilution rate, F/A min.−1

F:

feed flow rate 1/min.

fL :

weight fraction of lipids in the biomass dimensionless

fOC :

weight fraction of organic carbon in the soil dimensionless

H:

Henry’s law constant dimensionless

KB :

partition coefficient, biomass to liquid 1/cell

KOW :

octanol-water partition coefficient dimensionless

KP :

partition coefficient, soil to liquid dimensionless

KS :

soil sorption parameter 1/g

Ksta:

stripping constant, QH/F dimensionless

Q:

gas flow rate 1/min

t:

Time min

R:

rate of naphthalene disappearance mg/min

V:

slurry volume in reactor L

V1 :

liquid phase volume in reactor L

W:

soil concentration in reactor g/L

X:

biomass concentration cells/L

ρB :

biomass density g/cell

ρL :

lipid density g/L

ρS :

soil density g/L

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, 37996-2200, Knoxville, TN

    Philip M. Digrazia, James W. Blackburn, Paul R. Bienkowski, Barry Hilton, Gregory D. Reed, J. M. Henry King & Gary S. Sayler

  2. Department of Microbiology and the Graduate Program in Ecology, University of Tennessee, 37996-2200, Knoxville, TN

    Gary S. Sayler

  3. Department of Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering Program, University of Tennessee, 37996-2200, Knoxville, TN

    Barry Hilton, Gregory D. Reed & Gary S. Sayler

  4. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Tennessee, 37996-2200, Knoxville, TN

    Philip M. Digrazia, James W. Blackburn & Paul R. Bienkowski

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  1. Philip M. Digrazia
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  2. James W. Blackburn
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  7. Gary S. Sayler
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Digrazia, P.M., Blackburn, J.W., Bienkowski, P.R. et al. Development of a systems analysis approach for resolving the structure of biodegrading soil systems. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 24, 237–252 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02920249

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