The Effect of the Monosubstituted Benzenes Functional Groups on the Inhibition of Methane Gas Biosynthesis

Kalombo Kayembe, Lolofo Basosila, Pius T. Mpiana, Lisika Makambo, Pole C. Sikulisimwa, Damien S. T. Tshibangu, Dorothée D. Tshilanda, Rigobertine K. Tati

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, DR Congo.

DOI: 10.4236/jsbs.2012.24013                

Abstract

Aromatic compounds are inhibitors of methane biosynthesis in anaerobic treatment of solid wastes and industrial effluents. Anaerobic treatment of solid wastes and industrial effluents may be limited by the methanogenic bacteria inhibition exerted by these types of compounds, the production of biogas is not possible and the organic matter contained in the effluent is not reduced. These effluents poured in the nature can be the basis of the pollution. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of monosubstituted aromatic compounds functional groups on the methanogenic inhibition. The toxicity to acetoclastic methanogenic bacteria has performed in serum flasks, utilizing digested pig manure as inoculums, by measuring methane production. The nature of aromatic functional groups was observed to have a profound effect on the toxicity of the monosubstituted aromatics. Among the monosubstituted aromatic, the chlorobenzene was the most toxic with 50% of inhibition occurring at the concentration of 30.08 mg/l. In contrast, benzoic acid is the least inhibitory with IC₅₀ of 2515.20 mg/l. The partition coefficient octanol/water (logPoct), an indicator of hydrophobicity, had a significant correlation with the methanogenic toxicity.

Keywords

Monosubstituted Aromatics; Methane Gas; Biosynthesis; Inhibition; Digested Pig Manure

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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