Selenium and nitrate removal from agricultural drainage using the AIWPS(R) technology

Journal Article · Thu Jan 02 04:00:00 EST 2003 · Water Science and Technology

OSTI ID:828737

Green, F B ^[1]; Lundquist, T J; Quinn, N W.T.; Zarate, M A; Zubieta, I X; Oswald, W J

---

1. LBNL Library

Monthly Maximum Discharge Limits (MMDL) have been established for selenium in irrigation drainage by the State of California and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency following observations of avian teratogenesis at the Kesterson Reservoir in the San Joaquin Valley of California. As a result of these and other adverse effects, farmers and drainage districts on the western side of the San Joaquin Valley must reduce selenium concentrations in irrigation, drainage discharged to the San Joaquin River. Drainage treatment will be required in the near future to meet existing MMDL and future Total Maximum Discharge Limits (TMDL) for the San Joaquin River. A 0.4-hectare Algal Bacterial Selenium Removal (ABSR) Facility was designed and constructed at the Panoche Drainage District in 1995 and 1996 using the Advanced Integrated Wastewater Pond Systems (R) or AIWPS (R) Technology. Each of two physically identical systems combined a Reduction Pond (RP) with a shallow, peripheral algal High Rate Pond (HRP). A Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) unit and a slow sand filter were used to remove particulate selenium from the effluent of each system. The two systems were operated under different modes of operation and the bacterial substrate varied in each system. The rates of nitrate and selenium removal were compared. Microalgae were harvested using DAF and used as a carbon-rich substrate for nitrate- and selenate-reducing bacteria. Mass removals of total soluble selenium of 77 percent or greater were achieved over a three-year period. Nitrate and selenate were removed by assimilatory and dissimilatory bacterial reduction, and nitrate was also removed by algal assimilation. The final removal of particulate selenium is the focus of ongoing investigations. The removal of particulate selenium is expected to increase the overall removal of selenium to greater than 90 percent and would allow farmers and drainage districts to discharge irrigation drainage in compliance with regulatory discharge limits.

• Research Organization: Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Director, Office of Science (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 828737
• Report Number(s): LBNL--55205
• Journal Information: Water Science and Technology, Journal Name: Water Science and Technology Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 48; ISSN 0273-1223; ISSN WSTED4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

&
58 GEOSCIENCES
AIWPS((R))
ALGAL-BACTERIAL
BACTERIA
BIOLOGY
COMPLIANCE
CONTENTS(R)/AGRICULTURAL
CURRENT
DIMETHYL
DRAINAGE
ENVIRONMENT/ECOLOGY
ENVIRONMENTAL
FLOTATION
IN
IRRIGATION
NITRATE
NITRATES
PARTICULATES
PLANT
PONDS
REMOVAL
S
SAN-JOAQUIN
SAND
SCIENCES
SELENATES
SELENIDE
SELENIUM
SUBSTRATES
TECHNOLOGY
TERATOGENESIS
US EPA
VALLEY
WATER