Treatment of groundwater contaminated with PAHs, gasoline hydrocarbons, and methyl tert-butyl ether in a laboratory biomass-retaining bioreactor

Biodegradation. 2006 Feb;17(1):57-69. doi: 10.1007/s10532-005-3049-x.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aerobiosis
  • Biomass
  • Bioreactors*
  • Biotechnology / instrumentation
  • Biotechnology / methods*
  • Gasoline
  • Hydrocarbons / isolation & purification*
  • Hydrocarbons / metabolism
  • Methyl Ethers / isolation & purification
  • Methyl Ethers / metabolism
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / isolation & purification
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / metabolism
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / isolation & purification
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / metabolism*
  • Water Purification / methods*

Substances

  • Gasoline
  • Hydrocarbons
  • Methyl Ethers
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • methyl tert-butyl ether