TCE degradation in a methanotrophic attached-film bioreactor
- Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States). Dept. of Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Trichloroethene was degraded in expanded-bed bioreactors operated with mixed-culture methanotrophic attached films. Biomass concentrations of 8 to 75 g volatile solids (VS) per liter static bed (L[sub sb]) were observed. Batch TCE degradation rates at 35C followed the Michaelis-Menten model, and a maximum TCE degradation rate (q[sub max]) of 10.6 mg TCE/gVS [center dot] day and a half velocity coefficient (K[sub s]) of 2.8 mg TCE/L were predicted. Continuous-flow kinetics also followed the Michaelis-Menten model, but other parameters may be limiting, such as dissolved copper and dissolved methane-q[sub max] and K[sub s] were 2.9 mg TCE/gVS [center dot] day and 1.5 mg TCE/L, respectively, at low copper concentrations (0.003 to 0.006 mg Cu/L). The maximum rates decreased substantially with small increases in dissolved copper. Methane consumption during continuous-flow operation varied from 23 to 1,200 g CH[sub 4]/g TCE degraded. Increasing the influent dissolved methane concentration from 0.01 mg/L to 5.4 mg/L reduced the TCE degradation rate by nearly an order of magnitude at 21C. Exposure of biofilms to 1.4 mg/L tetrachloroethene (PCE) at 35C resulted in the loss of methane utilization ability. Tests with methanotrophs grown on granular activated carbon indicated that lower effluent TCE concentrations could be obtained. The low efficiencies of TCE removal and low degradation rates obtained at 35C suggest that additional improvements will be necessary to make methanotrophic TCE treatment attractive.
- OSTI ID:
- 6143240
- Journal Information:
- Biotechnology and Bioengineering; (United States), Vol. 42:7; ISSN 0006-3592
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Kinetics of chlorinated hydrocarbon degradation by suspended cultures of methane-oxidizing bacteria
Vinyl chloride biodegradation with methanotrophic attached films
Related Subjects
BIOREACTORS
EFFICIENCY
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
BIODEGRADATION
METHANOTROPHIC BACTERIA
GROWTH
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
BACTERIA
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology