Diffusivity and kinetics model for biodegradation of PAHs in a saturated porous matrix
Date
2014
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Scholarlink Research Institute Journals
Abstract
The commercial implementation of biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as a bioremediation technique against physical process was due to lack of its effective and efficient diffusivity model with reaction parameters in a saturated porous matrix. The development and simulation of diffusivity model which involve reaction kinetics was aimed to provide quantitative insight on biodegradation of PAHs. The developed model obtained from the principle of conservation of matter, concepts of Fick’s law of diffusion, Malthus equation and Monod kinetics expression under isothermal condition was simulated with experimental data. The result showed that Corynebacterium sp and Pseudomonas putida were effective and PAHs exhibits pseudo first order reaction. Though, the effective diffusivity of PAHs decreases as degradation of PAHs proceeds with increased microbial mass concentration at increased penetration depth. The developed diffusivity model has been shown to be effective and not only providing quantitative insight into biodegradation of the PAHs but serves as an alternative option in the selection of microbes capable of facilitating the restoration of PAHs contaminated sites.
Description
This article contains tables and figures
Keywords
Kinetics, conservation laws, microbial degradation, effective diffusivity, Department of Biomedical Technology
Citation
Azeez, T. O., Arinkoola, A. O., Salam, K. K. & Nwakaudu, M. S. (2014). Diffusivity and kinetics model for biodegradation of PAHs in a saturated porous matrix. Journal of EmergingTrends in Engineering and Applied Sciences, 5(1), 62 - 69