Biofilm reactors for treatment of gas streams containing chlorinated solvents

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Journal of Environmental Engineering (New York); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(1993)119:4(658)· OSTI ID:6315259

Speitel, Jr, G E ^[1]; McLay, D S ^[2]

---

1. Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States). Dept. of Civil Engineering
2. Woodward-Clyde Consultants, Raleigh, NC (United States)

Air streams contaminated with chlorinated solvents are increasingly common as by-products of air-stripping and soil-vapor-extraction operations. This research investigated treatment of such gas streams with a bioreactor that supported the growth of methanotrophic bacteria. These bacteria cometabolize many chlorinated solvents. Trichloroethylene (TCE) and 1,2-dichloroethane (DCA) were selected as model contaminants. Removals ranged from 20% to 80% at influent concentrations of 300-1,000 [mu]g/L of air and packed-bed gas-resident times of 5-12 min. Biofilm models were able to describe bioreactor performance well. Pseudo-first-order rate constants from reactor modeling were considerably smaller than those measured in batch systems, suggesting that much of the biofilm was inactive, which also was supported by methane-removal data. Enzyme competition between methane and chlorinated solvents and toxicity from chlorinated solvent metabolites both appeared significant.

• OSTI ID: 6315259
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Engineering (New York); (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Engineering (New York); (United States) Vol. 119:4; ISSN 0733-9372; ISSN JOEEDU
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AEROBIC CONDITIONS
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
ALKANES
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
BIOREACTORS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
CLEANING
CONTROL
DECOMPOSITION
DECONTAMINATION
ENZYMES
GROUND WATER
GROWTH
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
METABOLISM
METHANE
METHANOTROPHIC BACTERIA
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGENASES
PERFORMANCE
POLLUTION CONTROL
PROTEINS
REMEDIAL ACTION
SOILS
TOXICITY
WATER