Estimation of biodegradation kinetic constants for aromatic derivates through aerobic batch experiments

The kinetics of aerobic biodegradation were studied for 20 aromatic species by using sludges taken from a municipal sewage treatment plant. The reproducibility of the results is tested with respect to the period of collection of the sludges and the wastewater treatment plant where they were taken. The comparison of kinetic constants estimated for investigated chemicals allows evaluation of the effect on the reactivity due to the presence of single groups (i.e. −OH, −CH3, −Cl, −NO2) into the aromatic structures. The search for easy structure–reactivity relations is also attempted by using some group contributing methods.