ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the microbial strategies of multiple substrate utilization with a view to define general behavior patterns. It also discusses the models and rate equations that have been found to be useful for characterizing biodegradation of mixtures. The chapter illustrates the applications of the rate equations to predict rates of substrate removal in continuous flow, well mixed reactors. It is generally recognizes that most of the organic chemicals which manifest toxic properties to microbial population are nevertheless biodegradable and can serve as carbon and energy sources for microbial growth under selected environmental conditions. These biochemical characteristics have important practical implication in terms of natural purification processes in surface waters and soil environments. Surface and groundwater pollutants usually consist of a mixture of organic chemicals. The chapter discusses the kinetics and dynamics of biodegradation of toxic chemicals in mixtures of organic substrates.
