Bioreactor Performance Case Study
Description:
A fixed-film bioreactor was installed as part of a groundwater pump and treatment system. It was designed to degrade 25 pounds of hydrocarbons per day at 25 GPM with common aerobic microbes.
Treatment:
A two-week start-up period was initiated. Instead of treating with aerobic bacteria, the reactor was inoculated with M-1000H facultative anaerobic microbes. Within the two-week time frame, a biomass had begun forming and the reactor was put online at a flow rate of 2 to 6 GPM. A water sample was collected from both the influent and effluent sides of the reactor for analytical testing. The maximum total influent concentration was projected to be approximately 200 ppm. The total influent concentration was actually 3705 ppm. M-1000H treatment reduced the total effluent concentration to 440 ppm, an 88% decrease. The influent concentrations fluctuated considerably during this time with no adverse effects on the biomass. A list of the individual constituents and their subsequent reduction is provided below:
Results:
The chlorinated compounds were reduced from 1,426 to 306 ppm, a 79% decrease. The non-halogenated compounds were reduced from 2,279 to 134 ppm, a 94% decrease. The reactor, designed to degrade 25 pounds per day, degraded 266 pounds per day after inoculation with M-1000H. This represents a ten-fold increase in efficiency.