Shetty K, V.S.Verma, D.K.Srinikethan, G.2026-02-052011Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering, 2011, 34, 1, pp. 45-5616157591https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-010-0445-3https://idr.nitk.ac.in/handle/123456789/27354A novel bioreactor called pulsed plate bioreactor (PPBR) with cell immobilised glass particles in the interplate spaces was used for continuous aerobic biodegradation of phenol present in wastewater. A mathematical model consisting of mass balance equations and accounting for simultaneous external film mass transfer, internal diffusion and reaction is presented to describe the steady-state degradation of phenol by Nocardia hydrocarbonoxydans (Nch.) in this bioreactor. The growth of Nch. on phenol was found to follow Haldane substrate inhibition model. The biokinetic parameters at a temperature of 30 ± 1 °C and pH at 7.0 ± 0.1 are ? <inf>m</inf> = 0.5397 h -1, K <inf>S</inf> = 6.445 mg/L and K <inf>I</inf> = 855.7 mg/L. The mathematical model was able to predict the reactor performance, with a maximum error of 2% between the predicted and experimental percentage degradations of phenol. The biofilm internal diffusion rate was found to be the slowest step in biodegradation of phenol in a PPBR. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.Aerobic biodegradationBio-kinetic parametersDegradation of phenolsGlass particlesHaldaneImmobilised CellsInternal diffusionMass balance equationsMaximum errorModellingModelling and simulationsNocardiaPhenol degradationPulsed plate bioreactorReactor performanceSubstrate inhibitionBiofilmsBiofiltersBiological water treatmentBioreactorsCell cultureCellsDegradationMathematical modelsMicrobiologyPhenolsWastewaterBiodegradationphenolaerobic metabolismarticlebacterial cellbacterial growthbacterial kineticsbacterial metabolismbiodegradationbiofilmcontrolled studyimmobilized cell reactormathematical modelNocardia hydrocarbonoxydansnonhumanpriority journalreactor monitoringsteady stateAlgorithmsBiodegradation, EnvironmentalCells, ImmobilizedComputer SimulationDiffusionKineticsModels, BiologicalPhenolTemperatureWaste Disposal, FluidPseudonocardia hydrocarbonoxydans