Abstract
The contamination of water by chlorinated solvents is recognized as a serious and widespread problem throughout the industrialized world. Here, we focus on three chlorinated solvents that are among those most commonly detected and that have distinct chemical features: trichloroethene (TCE), trichloroethane (TCA), and chloroform (CF). Because many contaminated waters contain mixtures of the chlorinated solvents, a treatment technology that detoxifies all of them simultaneously is highly desirable. The membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) is a recent technological advance that makes it possible to deliver H(2) gas to bacteria efficiently and safely, despite hydrogen's low water solubility and risk of forming a combustible atmosphere when mixed with air. The objectives of this work are to document whether or not the three chlorinated compounds can be dechlorinated simultaneously in a H(2)-based MBfR and to determine if competitive or inhibitory interactions affect bio-reduction of any of the solvents. The main finding is a demonstration that directly using H(2) as the electron donor makes it possible to bio-reduce combinations of different chlorinated solvents. This finding supports that the H(2)-based MBfR can treat multiple chlorinated solvents in one step, addressing a common groundwater situation. We saw possible evidence of inhibition by CF at a concentration greater than about 1 muM, competition for H(2) from sulfate and nitrate reductions, and possible inhibition of TCE reduction from the accumulation of chloroethane (CA) or chloromethane (CM).
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.