ABSTRACT
The biodegradation of hazardous wastes by conventional-biological treatment systems has been reviewed by Grady.’ It was observed that most of the conventional-biological systems were capable of degrading toxic-organic materials. The removal of toxic pollutants by primary treatment, chemical clarification, trickling filter, activated sludge, aerated lagoon, and facultative lagoon have been evaluated by Hannah, et al. 2 It was concluded that the activated sludge process provided the best removal of conventional pollutants as well as toxic priority pollutants. Regarding the response of phenol-acclimated activated sludge process to quantitative shock loading, it was concluded by Rozich and Gaudy 3 that design of a slow specific growth rates (higher solid retention time, SRT) are essential for systems that undergo shock loadings. Similarly, anaerobic suspended cell systems have potential to degrade toxic organics if acclimation of microbial cells to the organics and longer SRT’s are provided. 4
