Microbial denitrification of wastewater using biodegradable polycaprolactone

Microbial denitrification of wastewater using biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) has been studied. Nitrogen in wastewater could be effectively removed by PCL, e.g. more than 70% of total nitrogen (TN) was removed on the average after 10 weeks. PCL degraded linearly with time and its weight loss was ca. 44% after 10 weeks. The thickness of the PCL plate decreased similarly from 0.5 mm to ca. 0.2 0.3 mm, but it kept its original form. Microbial film (bio-film) was formed on the surface of the plate and saturated at ca. 1.0 mm. Measurements of molecular weights and IR and UV-V spectroscopy indicated that biodegradation of PCL occurred on its surface. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.