Treatment of groundwater contaminated with PAHs, gasoline hydrocarbons, and methyl tert-butyl ether in a laboratory biomass-retaining bioreactor.
In this study, we investigated the treatability of co-mingled groundwater contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), gasoline hydrocarbons, and methyl tert-butyl ether (MtBE) using an ex-situ aerobic biotreatment system. The PAHs of interest were naphthalene, methyl-naphthalene, acenaphthene, acenaphthylene, and carbazole. The gasoline hydrocarbons included benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and p-xylene (BTEX). Two porous pot reactors were operated for a period of 10 months under the same influent contaminant concentrations. The contaminated groundwater was introduced into the reactors at a flow rate of 4 and 9 l/day, resulting in a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 32 and 15 h, respectively. In both reactors, high removal efficiencies were achieved for the PAHs (>99%), BTEX and MtBE (>99.7%). All the PAHs of interest and the four BTEX compounds were detected at concentrations less than 1 mug/l throughout the study duration. Effluent MtBE from both reactors was observed at higher levels; nevertheless, its concentration was lower than the 5 mug/l Drinking Water Advisory for MtBE implemented in California.
Zein
Maher M
MM
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, USA.
Pinto
Patricio X
PX
Garcia-Blanco
Susana
S
Suidan
Makram T
MT
Venosa
Albert D
AD
D000332:Aerobiosis; D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005742:Gasoline; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D008738:Methyl Ethers / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
D005742:Gasoline; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C043243:methyl tert-butyl ether