Dynamics of biodegradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate in the presence of glucose.

It has been observed experimentally that the biodegradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate (2,4-D) is inhibited by the presence of glucose. However, this effect is masked by the fact that larger concentrations of active biomass are produced when glucose is available. The implication of such a "mixed" growth in a continuous flow system is that much higher dilution rates can be applied for an efficient chlorinated-organic removal when other conventional substrates are present. The mean cell residence time is reduced and the area of stability of the process is extended into higher dilution rates, as well as into higher influent concentrations. Finally, the presence of the mixed substrate changes dramatically the "washout" conditions for both substrates. All these facts point out that the biodegradation of chlorinated organics is more efficient in a mixed substrate environment.