Biological reduction of nitrates in wastewaters from nuclear processing using a fluidized-bed bioreactor

Journal Article · Wed Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1980 · Nucl. Chem. Waste Manage.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0191-815X(81)90009-7· OSTI ID:6354291

Pitt, W W; Hancher, C W; Patton, B D

There are a number of nitrate-containing wastewater sources, as concentrated as 30 wt.% NO/sub 3//sup -/ and as large as 2000 m/sup 3//day, in the nuclear fuel cycle. The biological reduction of nitrate in wastewater to gaseous nitrogen, accompanied by the oxidation of a nutrient carbon source to gaseous carbon dioxide, is an ecologically sound and cost-effective method of treating wastewaters containing nitrates. These nitrate-containing wastewater sources can be successfully biologically denitrified to meet discharge standards in the range of 10 to 20 gN(NO/sub 3//sup -/)/m/sup 3/ by the use of a fluidized-bed bioreactor. The denitrification bacteria are a mixed culture derived from garden soil; the major strain is Pseudomonas. In the fluidized-bed bioreactor the bacteria are allowed to attach to 0.25- to 0.50-mm-diam coal fluidization particles, which are then fluidized by the upward flow of influent wastewater. Maintaining the bacteria-to-coal weight ratio at approximately 1:10 results in a bioreactor bacteria loading of greater than 20,000 g/m/sup 3/. This paper describes the results of a biodenitrification R and D program based on the use of fluidized bioreactors capable of operating at nitrate levels up to 7000 g/m/sup 3/ and achieving denitrification rates as high as 80 g N(NO/sub 3//sup -/) per day per liter of empty bioreactor volume. 4 figures, 7 tables.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 6354291
• Journal Information: Nucl. Chem. Waste Manage.; (United States), Journal Name: Nucl. Chem. Waste Manage.; (United States) Vol. 2:1; ISSN NCWMD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052001* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Processing
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
COAL
DECOMPOSITION
DENITRIFICATION
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDIZED BED
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL CYCLE
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LIQUID WASTES
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MICROORGANISMS
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
PSEUDOMONAS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
REDUCTION
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTE WATER
WASTES
WATER
WATER TREATMENT