Bacterial Perchlorate Reduction in Simulated Reverse Osmosis Rejectate

• Published in: Bioremediation journal Vol. 6; no. 2; pp. 105 - 111
• Main Authors: Giblin, T., Losi, M. E., Hosangadi, V., Frankenberger, W. T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Colchester Taylor & Francis Group 01.06.2002; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Bacteria; Biological and medical sciences; Biological treatment of waters; bioreactor; bioreduction; Bioremediation; Biotechnology; Environment and pollution; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; perchlorate; saline; Rejection; Pollutant; Water treatment; Bioreactor; Reduction; Bacteria; Reverse osmosis; Bioremediation; Biological treatment; Perchlorates; Ground water
• ISSN: 1088-9868; 1547-6529
• DOI: 10.1080/10588330208951207

Reverse osmosis (RO) is capable of removing perchlorate (ClO 4 − ) from contaminated groundwater and producing potable effluent; however, RO does not destroy ClO 4 − , but collects it in a concentrated waste stream (rejectate) that must be treated or disposed of appropriately. A packed bed bioreactor, inoculated with the pure culture perclace, was tested for its ability to remove ClO 4 − from a simulated RO rejectate. Perchlorate concentrations were lowered from 5 mg/L to <0.004 mg/L with a residence time of 0.8 h. In addition, this system removed 98% of ClO 4 − from a twice-concentrated rejectate with an influent ClO 4 − concentration of 8 mg/L and a residence time of 2.0 h. In both experiments, nitrate (NO 3 − ) was removed simultaneously with ClO 4 − from an initial concentration as high as 900 mg/L NO 3 to below 4 mg/L. Despite the efficiency of ClO 4 − removal, the system suffered from clogging due to the high total dissolved solids (TDS) of the twice-concentrated rejectate.