Effects of Pyridine and Methanol on the Biodegradation of 2-methylpyridine by Activated Sludge under Denitrifying Conditions

Abstract

Lab-scale batch experiments were conducted to investigate the biodegradation of 2-methylpyridine as sole carbon source under denitrifying conditions. Moreover, effects of pyridine and methanol on the biodegradation of 2-methylpyridine were also studied. Under denitrifying conditions, 2-methylpyridine of 100 mg/L was degraded in 13 h as sole carbon source. When pyridine was used as co-substrate with 2-methylpyridine, 2-methylpyridine degradation was inhibited, and pyridine was degraded prior to 2-methylpyridine. On the contrary, methanol promoted the degradation of 2-methylpyridine.