Pilot-scale demonstration of a two-stage methanotrophic bioreactor for biodegradation of trichloroethylene in groundwater

13Citations
Citations of this article
7Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

This article is free to access.

Abstract

A two-stage methanotrophic bioreactor system was developed for remediation of water contaminated with TCE and other chlorinated, volatile, aliphatic hydrocarbons. The first stage of the reactor was a suspended-growth culture vessel using a bubbleless methane-transfer device. The second stage was a plug-flow bioreactor supplied with contaminated groundwater and cell suspension from the culture vessel. The test objectives were to determine the applicability of microbial culture conditions reported in the literature for continuous, pilot-scale TCE treatment; the technical feasibility of plug-flow bioreactor design for treatment of TCE; and the projected economic competitiveness of the technology considering the cost of methane for growth of methanotrophs. The methanotrophic organism used in the study was Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b. Information on system operation was obtained in bench tests prior to conducting the pilot tests. In bench- and pilot-scale tests, variability in the degree of TCE degradation and difficulty in maintaining the microbial culture activity led to short periods of satisfactory biotreatment. Further development of the microbial culture system will be required for long-term operation. During transient periods of high TCE degradation activity, the bioreactor concept proved feasible by exhibiting both a high degree of TCE biodegradation (typically about 90% at influent TCE concentrations of 0.5-4 ppm) and a close approximation to first-order reactor kinetics throughout the length of the reactor. Actual methane usage in the pilot-scale reactor resulted in projected methane costs of $0.33 per 1000 gallons of water treated. This cost theoretically would be reduced by system modifications. The theoretical minimum methane cost was approximately $0.05 per 1000 gallons. © 1995 Air & Waste Management Association.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Dobbins, D. C., Peltola, J., Kustritz, J. M., Chresand, T. J., & Preston, J. C. (1995). Pilot-scale demonstration of a two-stage methanotrophic bioreactor for biodegradation of trichloroethylene in groundwater. Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association, 45(1), 12–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/10473289.1995.10467335

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free