| A study was undertaken to determine the biodegradability of cyclohexylamine and dicyclohexylamine by aerobic biological treatment. The treatment system employed a ten liter pilot scale reactor made of clear, acrylic plastic. The active biomass was obtained from the treatment system of an organic chemicals manufacturing facility. The microbial consortium was acclimated to a complex industrial wastestream containing multiple organic components which included aniline, mononitrobenzene, and phenol.;It was found that cyclohexylamine could be degraded by the microbial population. However, an acclimation period of approximately 70 hours was required in order to achieve removal rates in excess of 90%.;Dicyclohexylamine could not be degraded by the same microbial consortium. Some removal of the DCHA was noted during the first several days of the test but it is believed that this reduction was attributable to adsorption/adhesion to the biomass rather than to true utilization for either cell maintenance or growth of additional cells. |
