Date of Award
3-21-2013
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction
Department
Department of Systems Engineering and Management
Second Advisor
Leeann Racz, PhD.
Abstract
This study examined the fate of malathion, a surrogate compound for VX studies, in bench-scale sequencing batch bioreactors being operated under varied solid retention times (SRTs) to simulate the activated sludge process in wastewater treatment facilities. Results show that a constant influent of the malathion will largely be removed. However, the heterotrophic bacteria undergo a stress response which temporarily inhibits malathion removal, the extent of which increases with increasing SRTs. After this stress response takes place, the activated sludge is able to resume a high degree of malathion removal, even with increased influent concentration; however, this is done so at the expense of acceptable COD removal in the effluent, suggesting malathion may be toxic to the heterotrophic bacteria in activated sludge.
AFIT Designator
AFIT-ENV-13-M-38
DTIC Accession Number
ADA585288
Recommended Citation
Janeczko, Allen K., "Biodegradation of an Organophosphate Chemical Warfare Agent Simulant by Activated Sludge with Varying Solid Retention Times" (2013). Theses and Dissertations. 992.
https://scholar.afit.edu/etd/992