An airlift reactor with net draft tube for phenol biodegradation using Ralstonia eutropha

Biodegradation of phenol has been investigated in an airlift reactor with net draft tube (ALR-nd) at different phenol concentrations (50, 100 and 190 mg/l) and air flow rates (100, 300, and 600 mL/min) using phenol-adapted Ralstonia eutropha. The results showed that the biodegradation rate of phenol decreased at high concentration of phenol (190 mg/l) due to inhibition. On the basis of biodegradation experiments, it was observed that the optimum amount of air flow rate was 300 ml/min. The maximum biodegradation rate was 11.5 mg/l.hr which was obtained at 100 mg/l of initial concentration of phenol and 300 mL/min of air flow rate.