In recent years, several oxyanions have emerged as drinking water micropollutants, including arsenate, selenate, bromate, and, most recently, perchlorate (ClO4-). Conventional water treatment processes typically are ineffective in removing these compounds, and advanced treatment processes are expensive. Biological reduction may provide a suitable treatment alternative, since these compounds can serve as electron acceptors. Other acceptors, such as nitrate (NO3-), must act as a primary electron acceptor. We tested our denitrifying, autotrophic, hydrogen-oxidizing hollow-fiber membrane for ClO4- reduction. The reactor is highly suited to drinking water treatment, as hydrogen (H2) is inexpensive, non-toxic, and does not leave residuals that can cause regrowth. When 1 to 2 mg/L ClO4- was supplied to reactor, which was at steady-state with 5 mgN/L NO3- but unacclimated to ClO4-, ClO4- removals increased from 40 to 99% over three weeks. Removals to 4 μg/L were also achieved in a natural groundwater having 6 to 100 μg/L ClO4-. Tests with variable NO3- and H2 showed that ClO4- reduction requires less than 30 μgN/L NO3- and at least 300-μg/L effluent H2. Therefore, partial denitrification is probably not consistent with excellent ClO4- removal. Mineral medium produced a gradual loss of ClO4--reducing bacteria, but they were re-enriched when tap water replaced minimal medium.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Research Article|
April 01 2002
Perchlorate as a secondary substrate in a denitrifying, hollow-fiber membrane biofilm reactor
R. Nerenberg;
1Department of Civil Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208-3109, USA. (E-mail: b-rittmann@northwestern.edu)
E-mail: r-nerenberg@northwestern.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
B.E. Rittmann
B.E. Rittmann
1Department of Civil Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208-3109, USA. (E-mail: b-rittmann@northwestern.edu)
Search for other works by this author on:
Water Supply (2002) 2 (2): 259–265.
Citation
R. Nerenberg, B.E. Rittmann; Perchlorate as a secondary substrate in a denitrifying, hollow-fiber membrane biofilm reactor. Water Supply 1 April 2002; 2 (2): 259–265. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/ws.2002.0071
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
15
Views
0
Citations