In this work, an aqueous mean containing 250 mg/L of phenol and macro and micro nutrients was submitted to treatment in a continuous fixed bed reactor inoculated with the Aspergillus niger. The reactor was operated under eight hours of hydraulic detention, divided into two feeding phases in the presence (Phase I) and absence (Phase II) of 0.5 g/L of glucose in the mean. The organic matter removal, measured in chemical demand of oxygen and phenol were of 92% and 99% in Phase I, and 77% of organic matter and phenol in Phase II. The loss of the efficiency observed in the Phase II was attributed to extreme production of biomass and mucilage inside the reactor and for the reduction of the enzymatic activity of the involved microorganisms in the process.
wastewater; Aspergillus niger; phenol; glucose; biological treatment
