Biodegradation of 1,4-Dioxane Using Trickling Filter
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 130, Issue 9
Abstract
The ability of a laboratory-scale trickling filter to biodegrade cyclic ethers was investigated and a simple kinetic model was developed to predict ether biodegradation. The trickling filter received a feed solution designed to mimic ether concentrations typically encountered in contaminated groundwater. The reactor was operated for approximately 1 year and was capable of biodegrading 93–97% of 1,4-dioxane at various loading rates in the obligate presence of tetrahydrofuran (THF) as the growth substrate. A simple tanks-in-series hydraulic model combined with a kinetic model that incorporated cometabolism was utilized to simulate removal of THF and 1,4-dioxane. Model simulations of THF removal were satisfactory for all loading rates analyzed. However, the model somewhat over predicted 1,4-dioxane removal. This research demonstrates the ability to treat groundwater contaminated with low concentrations of ethers in attached growth reactors.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 130 • Issue 9 • September 2004
Pages: 926 - 931
Copyright
Copyright © 2004 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 1, 2000
Accepted: Jun 17, 2003
Published online: Aug 16, 2004
Published in print: Sep 2004
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