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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Selenate removal from waste water

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6969174

An efficient process for removing oxyanions of selenium by selenate-respiring microorganisms may be obtained according to the invention by reducing the nitrate concentration well below 1 mM. In the process according to the invention, the required lowering of the nitrate concentration in selenium- and nitrate- containing waste water may be accomplished by employing a nitrate utilizing biomass under aerobic conditions in a first treatment zone to remove nitrate. The efficiency of the process is further enhanced by seeding the treatment zone where the microbial respiratory removal of oxyanions of selenium from waste water takes place with a culture of microorganisms enriched for selenium respiring microorganisms. Additional improvement of the process according to the invention may be obtained by adapting the seed culture of microorganisms enriched for selenium respiring microorganisms to the chemical conditions.

Research Organization:
Forest Service, Washington, DC (USA)
Assignee:
Forest Service, Washington, DC (US)
Patent Number(s):
A US 7-428699
OSTI ID:
6969174
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English