Activated carbons as biofilm supports for decontamination of streams polluted with heavy metals and organic residues

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:250900

Scott, J A; Karanjkar, A M ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Bath (United Kingdom). School of Chemical Engineering

Removal of metals from effluents by biosorption is an established alternative method for decontamination of heavy metal bearing waste streams. However, for operating a practical process, two factors have to be addressed. (1) The biosorbent should be physically immobilized/entrapped, such that it is large enough to be retained within the treatment zone. The most common approach is to use encapsulated or fixed dead biomass. While this may be effective at removing metals, it does not offer any opportunity to exploit microbial metabolism. (2) The system should be ideally multi-functional, with an ability to tackle more than one type of pollutant. The authors are looking at immobilizing viable biofilms over granular activated carbon (GAC). The advantages of good metal removal can be then combined with an excellent adsorber for inorganic salts and organic residues. GAC by itself, is not in general an effective adsorbent for heavy metals, but with a biofilm attached which consists of bacteria held in an expansive excreted polysaccharide coating, rate and quantity of metal extraction can be significantly increased. At the same time, an ability is maintained to co-adsorb inorganics and organics.

• OSTI ID: 250900
• Report Number(s): CONF-9507204--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTIVATED CARBON
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
METALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
WATER POLLUTION ABATEMENT