TCE degradation in a methanotrophic attached-film bioreactor

Journal Article · Mon Sep 20 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Biotechnology and Bioengineering; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.260420711· OSTI ID:6143240

Fennell, D; Nelson, Y M; Underhill, S E; White, T E; Jewell, W J ^[1]

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1. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States). Dept. of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Trichloroethene was degraded in expanded-bed bioreactors operated with mixed-culture methanotrophic attached films. Biomass concentrations of 8 to 75 g volatile solids (VS) per liter static bed (L[sub sb]) were observed. Batch TCE degradation rates at 35C followed the Michaelis-Menten model, and a maximum TCE degradation rate (q[sub max]) of 10.6 mg TCE/gVS [center dot] day and a half velocity coefficient (K[sub s]) of 2.8 mg TCE/L were predicted. Continuous-flow kinetics also followed the Michaelis-Menten model, but other parameters may be limiting, such as dissolved copper and dissolved methane-q[sub max] and K[sub s] were 2.9 mg TCE/gVS [center dot] day and 1.5 mg TCE/L, respectively, at low copper concentrations (0.003 to 0.006 mg Cu/L). The maximum rates decreased substantially with small increases in dissolved copper. Methane consumption during continuous-flow operation varied from 23 to 1,200 g CH[sub 4]/g TCE degraded. Increasing the influent dissolved methane concentration from 0.01 mg/L to 5.4 mg/L reduced the TCE degradation rate by nearly an order of magnitude at 21C. Exposure of biofilms to 1.4 mg/L tetrachloroethene (PCE) at 35C resulted in the loss of methane utilization ability. Tests with methanotrophs grown on granular activated carbon indicated that lower effluent TCE concentrations could be obtained. The low efficiencies of TCE removal and low degradation rates obtained at 35C suggest that additional improvements will be necessary to make methanotrophic TCE treatment attractive.

• OSTI ID: 6143240
• Journal Information: Biotechnology and Bioengineering; (United States), Journal Name: Biotechnology and Bioengineering; (United States) Vol. 42:7; ISSN BIBIAU; ISSN 0006-3592
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
BIOREACTORS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
DECOMPOSITION
EFFICIENCY
GROWTH
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METHANOTROPHIC BACTERIA
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS