Bioremediation of 2-chlorophenol containing wastewater by aerobic granules-kinetics and toxicity

► 2-Chlorophenol degrading aerobic granules were cultivated in sequencing batch reactor in presence of glucose and the organic loading rate (OLR) was increased from 6.9 to 9.7 kg COD m−3 d−1 during the experiment. ► Spectral studies confirmed that the biodegradation occurs via chlorocatechol pathway and modified ortho-cleavage. ► Biodegradation kinetics of 2-CP followed the Haldane model with kinetic parameters (R2 > 0.9) Vmax = 840 mg2-CP gMLVSS−1 d−1, Ks = 24.61 mg L−1, Ki = 315.02 mg L−1. ► Genotoxic examination by plasmid nicking assay confirmed that the effluent was non-toxic.