Abstract:
The present study contributes to the comprehension of the biological phenomena witch
control the degradation of the volatile organic compounds in a series of reactors
n batch mode.
The principal compound having been the subject of experimentation in batch reactor
with a consortium coming from the station of purification of El Ménia is methanol.
Experiments utilizing a mixture of methanol and ethanol highlight the antagonist
effect of ethanol on the biodegradation of methanol.
The effect of the initial concentration of biomass Xo on the biodegradation
of methanol by the consortium used allows a better kinetics of biomass growth and substrate
degradation. Its increase induces a better yield of conversion of methanol into biomass
and a significant concomitant reduction of time necessary for the complete abolition
of methanol.
The study of the absence of adaptation of the microorganisms to the mixture
of methanol and ethanol allows the obtainment of better values of the kinetics constants
of biomass growth and substrate degradation with in against part a light increase
of the duration of consumption of the substrates (methanol, ethanol) and of microbial growth.
