Dinitrophenol is preventing cells from making energy for growth and it has been suggested that pH may be important in mitigating effects of uncouplers. The effect of pH on toxicity of dinitrophenol at high concentration was investigated, over a pH range of 5.7 to 8.7. DNP inhibition was found to be strongly dependent on mixed liquor pH. The DNP degradation rate was highest in the pH range of 7.0 to 7.8; at pH 6.0 degradation of 0.41 mM dinitrophenol was significantly inhibited; at pH <5.7, dinitrophenol degradation was completely inhibited after approximately 25% of the dinitrophenol was degraded. However no significant effect of pH variation was seen on glucose uptake by the activated sludge mixed culture.

• Kwan Hyung Jo(Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Science, Chungwoon University) Corresponding Author