Bioprocess development for hexavalent chromium reduction

Conference · Tue Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996

OSTI ID:370945

Turick, C E; Apel, W A ^[1]

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1. Idaho National Engineering Lab., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) exists in the environment from anthropogenic activity and is regarded as a highly mobile and toxic pollutant. There is considerable interest in developing effective and efficient methods for the remediation of contaminated media. Many bacterial isolates have been demonstrated to metabolically reduce Cr(VI) to Cr(III), a much less toxic, more easily recoverable form of chromium. Aerobic and anaerobic cultures of Cr(VI) reducing bacteria were analyzed for their ability to reduce Cr(VI) prior to bioreactor design and scale up. Batch studies demonstrated Cr(VI) reduction rates with aerobic bacteria of up to 3 mg/hr/g dry cells, while anaerobic cultures exhibited Cr(VI) reduction rates up to 22 mg/hr/g dry cells. An aerobic mixed culture of Cr(VI) reducing bacteria was chosen for bioreactor studies due to better rates of Cr(VI) reduction as well as the robust nature of the culture. These properties will allow for ease in bioprocess operation in the field.

• OSTI ID: 370945
• Report Number(s): CONF-960376--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
BACTERIA
BIOCONVERSION
CHROMIUM
REDUCTION
REMEDIAL ACTION
SOILS