Abstract
A H2-based, denitrifying and sulfate-reducing membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) was effective for removing 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA) and chloroform (CF) by reductive dechlorination. When either TCA or CF was first added to the MBfR, reductive dechlorination took place immediately and then increased over 3 weeks, suggesting enrichment for TCA- or CF-dechlorinating bacteria. Increasing the H2 pressure increased the dechlorination rates of TCA or CF, and it also increased the rate of sulfate reduction. Increased sulfate loading allowed more sulfate reduction, and this competed with reductive dechlorination, particularly the second steps. The acceptor flux normalized by effluent concentration can be an efficient indicator to gauge the intrinsic kinetics of the MBfR biofilms for the different reduction reactions. The analysis of normalized rates showed that the kinetics for reductive-dechlorination reactions were slowed by reduced H2 bio-availability caused by a low H2 pressure or competition from sulfate reduction.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 52-60 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Biotechnology and bioengineering |
Volume | 97 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 1 2007 |
Keywords
- 1,1,1-trichloroethane
- Bio-reductive dechlorination
- Chloroform
- Hydrogen
- Membrane biofilm reactor
- Sulfate
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biotechnology
- Bioengineering
- Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology