Denitrification incorporating microporous membranes

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Journal of Environmental Engineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(1996)122:7(599)· OSTI ID:267986

Reising, A R; Schroeder, E D ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, Davis, CA (United States). Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering

A microbial system for removal of nitrate from drinking water in which the denitrification reactions are physically separated from the water being treated by a microporous membrane was studied. The experimental system was composed of two equal-volume cells separated by a 0.02 {mu}m pore size polytetrafluoroethylene membrane. No pressure difference existed across the membrane, and nitrate ions were transported through the membrane by diffusion. Results of experiments with biofilm denitrification and suspended-culture systems are presented. Deoxygenation by N{sub 2} stripping and by SO{sub 3}{sup {minus}2} produced equivalent results. Removal rates with the suspended culture systems were greater than those with biofilms. Effective membrane diffusivities calculated for suspended-culture systems were approximately the same as for sterile systems, indicating that resistance to transport was not changed by the addition of the suspended microbial culture. The methanol requirement observed in the experiments was 1.4 g total organic carbon (TOC) per g NO{sub 3}{sup {minus}}-N removed. Removal rates followed first-order pseudotransport controlled models for both the biofilm and suspended-culture systems. A prototype continuous-flow system is presented.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 267986
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Engineering, Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Engineering Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 122; ISSN 0733-9372; ISSN JOEEDU
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BIODEGRADATION
BIOREACTORS
DENITRIFICATION
DRINKING WATER
NITRATES
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL