AWWA WQTC55128

Perchlorate is a component of rocket fuel, munitions, fireworks, matches, fertilizers, and various other compounds. It has been detected in the waters of 44 states, particularly the western states, as a result of mismanagement of the solid rocket fuel ammonium perchlorate. Perchlorate poses a health hazard by restricting the production of hormones in the thyroid gland. It is also highly mobile in aqueous systems and so can create serious threats to ecological systems. Bacteria can reduce perchlorate to chloride under anaerobic conditions. However, to complete the reaction a suitable multi-electron transferable bacterium must be involved. The objective of this study was to determine whether low concentrations of perchlorate could be removed from solution under anaerobic conditions and in conjunction with bio-denitrification. The study focused on the removal of perchlorate and nitrate in conjunction with bioreactors seeded with sludge and effluent from a primary wastewater treatment process and influent water containing acetate as the carbon source. Upflow, fixed-film bioreactors reduced relatively low concentrations of perchlorate (100-1000 ug/L) to non-detectable levels in the presence of relatively high nitrate-nitrogen concentrations (50 mg/L) at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 10 hours. An HRT of 1 hour reduced removal efficiencies somewhat. Includes 17 references, tables, figures.

Product Details

Edition:

Vol. - No.

Published:

01/01/2001

Number of Pages:

17

File Size:

1 file , 1.3 MB