Biodegradation of volatile chlorinated solvents in a methanotrophic biofilm reactor
- TAUW Milieu b.v., Deventer (Netherlands)
Two full-scale methanotrophic biofilm reactors (13.5 m{sup 3}) were tested for the treatment of groundwater (27 m{sup 3}/h) contaminated with dichloroethylene (DCE) and monochlorobenzene (MCB). The two plugflow BIOPUR{reg_sign} reactors were built on site, and each contained five compartments in series. Natural gas was injected into the second compartment resulting in methanotrophic conditions in compartments 2 through 5 to stimulate cometabolic degradation of DCE. Compartment 1 was intended for the biodegradation of MCB. For DCE, removal efficiencies of 60 to 80% were achieved. Stripping amounted to between 5 and 20%. A significant simultaneous removal of DCE and MCB was observed in the first compartments. The methanotrophic biofilm reactor operated safely and at low costs; however, a one-step, economically attractive process does not seem to be feasible for the removal of DCE from contaminated groundwater down to the low levels required by Dutch legislation.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Nederlandse Maatschappij voor Energie en Milieu BV (NOVEM), Utrecht (Netherlands)
- OSTI ID:
- 479372
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950483--; ISBN 1-57477-010-1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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