Acetate consumption in each of the columns was assessed to
determine if the microbial communities were metabolizing
the primary substrate. During day to day column operation,
only three of the columns were supplied with acetate, but all
five columns were supplied with the 500-mL step input
14C-acetate feed as a tracer to assess acetate biodegradation.
The abiotic control column was included to assess abiotic
acetate removals in the columns. The column that had been
receiving PPCPs without acetate was included to ensure that
any effects from radiation exposure on the biofilms would be
present in all columns and to verify that acetate is an easily
degradable substrate by observing its metabolismin a column
not previously exposed to it.