English Abstract Laboratory research under defined conditions has been
conducted on the effect of powdered activated carbons (one thermally
activated, and one chemically activated powdered carbon) on the removal
and/or biodegradation of xenobiotic compounds (o-cresol and
3-chlorobenzoate) in aerobic bacterial cultures. The research was carried
out using mineral medium with one xenobiotic compound at a time
(single-solute systems). Aim of the research was to reveal the interaction
between sorption and biodegradation. During shock-load conditions
bioregeneration of the loaded activated carbon occurred. The consumption of
previously adsorbed compounds resulted in the renewal of the adsorption
capacity of the carbon. Batch experiments showed that the extent to which
bioregeneration occurred was in close accordance with the extent to which
adsorption proved to be reversible under abiotic conditions.
Bioregeneration is controlled by desorption. Bioregeneration varied from 15
to 85% of the adsorbed amount, and abiotic desorption from 11 to 94%,
depending upon the type of carbon, the compound used and the contacttime
between them.
