Model for treatment of trichloroethylene by methanotrophic biofilms

Journal Article · · Journal of Environmental Engineering (New York); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(1994)120:2(379)· OSTI ID:7026895

Anderson, J E; McCarty, P L ^[1]

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1. Stanford Univ., CA (United States). Dept. of Civil Engineering

A biofilm model for the cometabolic degradation of trichloroethylene (TCE) by methane oxidizing (methanotrophic) bacteria is derived. Methane utilization and TCE transformation were modeled using diffusive mass transport, Monod kinetics, competitive inhibition, TCE transformation product toxicity, and growth, decay and inactivation of the methanotrophic bacteria. Reported low rates of TCE degradation by biofilms were found to be compatible with the high rates found in dispersed growth studies. The slower rates result from phenomena inherent in biofilms, and not necessarily from a difference in performance characteristics of the organisms. The possibility that biofilms may not be copper-limited is also considered. Other model predictions include an optimum methane concentration that maximizes TCE flux. Also, survival of a biofilm should only occur when the methane concentration is above a certain minimum value (S[sub min]), which is linearly related to TCE concentration. The model is general and can be applied to other primary substrates and chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs).

• OSTI ID: 7026895
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Engineering (New York); (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Engineering (New York); (United States) Vol. 120:2; 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.
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
DECOMPOSITION
GROWTH
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METHANOTROPHIC BACTERIA
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
REMEDIAL ACTION
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TOXICITY