Biotreatment of aqueous extract from chlorobenzene-contaminated soil
- National Research Council-Canada, Montreal, Quebec (Canada). Biotechnology Research Inst.
- Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal, Quebec (Canada). Chemical Engineering Dept.
Chlorobenzene-contaminated groundwater originating from soil steam flooding was considered for treatment in a biological reactor. The present study addresses optimal conditions for biotreatment of 1,2-dichlorobenzene, 1,3-dichlorobenzene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene at average initial concentrations (mg/L) of 25, 2.1, 3.9, and 0.4, respectively. Microcosm tests demonstrated that soil indigenous populations were able to mineralize all contaminants, with a 57 to 72% CO{sub 2} recovery. Assays were performed in a mechanically stirred bioreactor that was inoculated with contaminated soil and municipal activated sludge. Contaminants such as tri- and dichlorobenzene are easily degraded under aerobic conditions. Concentrations of all contaminants were less than 10 {micro}g/L in the released effluent after 30 to 45 days of reaction with soil at 5% (w/w) and dissolved O{sub 2} at 80% of saturation. Within the bioreactor operating range, the contaminant did not volatilize significantly. Biodegradation was preceded by a transient adsorption of the compounds. The specific rate of dichlorobenzene degradation was improved four-fold when the soil inoculum was supplemented with municipal activated sludge.
- OSTI ID:
- 479356
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950483--; ISBN 1-57477-010-1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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