Enzymatic activity of activated sludge in biological treatment of wastewater containing dimethylamine, dimethylformamide and methylethylketone.

Activated sludge treating synthetic wastewater carrying dimethylamine (DMA), dimethylformamide (DMF) and methylethylketone (MEK) was examined. The compounds in question were found to affect the enzymatic activity of the activated sludge. Dehydrogenase activity was higher than in control activated sludge and stabilization of this activity was achieved on the twelfth day of the run. Alkaline phosphatase activity was lower than in the control sludge. No correlation between activity of the studied enzymes and biodegradation of DMA, DMF and MEK was observed.