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Title: Method and apparatus for destroying organic contaminants in aqueous liquids

Abstract

A method and apparatus for destroying organic contaminants, such as trichloroethylene, in aqueous liquids, such as groundwater, utilizing steam stripping integrated with biodegradation. The contaminated aqueous liquid is fed into a steam stripper causing the volatilization of essentially all of the organic contaminants and a portion of the aqueous liquid. The majority of the aqueous liquid is discharged from the steam stripper. The volatilized vapors are then condensed to the liquid phase and introduced into a bioreactor. The bioreactor contains methanotrophic microorganisms which convert the organic contaminants into mainly carbon dioxide. The effluent from the bioreactor is then recycled back to the steam stripper for further processing.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. Lenior City, TN
  2. Oak Ridge, TN
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
868933
Patent Number(s):
5246584
Assignee:
Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc. (Oak Ridge, TN)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01D - SEPARATION
C - CHEMISTRY C02 - TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE C02F - TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-84OR21400
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
method; apparatus; destroying; organic; contaminants; aqueous; liquids; trichloroethylene; groundwater; utilizing; steam; stripping; integrated; biodegradation; contaminated; liquid; fed; stripper; causing; volatilization; essentially; portion; majority; discharged; volatilized; vapors; condensed; phase; introduced; bioreactor; contains; methanotrophic; microorganisms; convert; mainly; carbon; dioxide; effluent; recycled; processing; organic contaminant; carbon dioxide; liquid phase; organic contaminants; aqueous liquid; reactor contains; aqueous liquids; steam stripping; destroying organic; /210/435/

Citation Formats

Donaldson, Terrence L, and Wilson, James H. Method and apparatus for destroying organic contaminants in aqueous liquids. United States: N. p., 1993. Web.
Donaldson, Terrence L, & Wilson, James H. Method and apparatus for destroying organic contaminants in aqueous liquids. United States.
Donaldson, Terrence L, and Wilson, James H. Fri . "Method and apparatus for destroying organic contaminants in aqueous liquids". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/868933.
@article{osti_868933,
title = {Method and apparatus for destroying organic contaminants in aqueous liquids},
author = {Donaldson, Terrence L and Wilson, James H},
abstractNote = {A method and apparatus for destroying organic contaminants, such as trichloroethylene, in aqueous liquids, such as groundwater, utilizing steam stripping integrated with biodegradation. The contaminated aqueous liquid is fed into a steam stripper causing the volatilization of essentially all of the organic contaminants and a portion of the aqueous liquid. The majority of the aqueous liquid is discharged from the steam stripper. The volatilized vapors are then condensed to the liquid phase and introduced into a bioreactor. The bioreactor contains methanotrophic microorganisms which convert the organic contaminants into mainly carbon dioxide. The effluent from the bioreactor is then recycled back to the steam stripper for further processing.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993},
month = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993}
}

Works referenced in this record:

A cometabolic biotransformation model for halogenated aliphatic compounds exhibiting product toxicity
journal, August 1991


Trichloroethylene Biodegradation by a Methane-Oxidizing Bacterium
journal, April 1988


Degradation of trichloroethylene and trans-1,2-dichloroethylene by a methanotrophic consortium in a fixed-film, packed-bed bioreactor
journal, November 1989


Ground Water Remediation Using an Extraction, Treatment, and Recharge System
journal, March 1989


Two-stage dispersed-growth treatment of halogenated aliphatic compounds by cometabolism
journal, August 1991


Remediation of Contaminated Ground Water Using Biological Techniques
journal, March 1989