You are here:
DEMONSTRATION BULLETIN: BIOLOGICAL DENITRIFICATION PROCESS, ECOMAT, INC.
Citation:
Science Applications International Corporation. DEMONSTRATION BULLETIN: BIOLOGICAL DENITRIFICATION PROCESS, ECOMAT, INC. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/540/MR-01/501, 2001.
Description:
EcoMat, Inc. of Hayward, CA has developed a two-stage ex situ anoxic biofilter biodenitrification process. The process is a fixed film bioremediation, using biocarriers and specific bacteria to treat nitrate-contaminated water. Unique to EcoMat's process is a patented mixed bed reactor that retains the biocarrier within the system, thus minimizing solids carryover. Fixed film treatment allows rapid and compact treatment of nitrate with minimal byproducts. Methanol is added as a source of carbon for cell growth and for metabolic processes that remove free oxygen. The resulting oxygen-deficient environment encourages the bacteria to consume nitrate. Methanol is also important to assure that conversion of nitrate proceeds to the production of nitrogen gas rather than to the more toxic nitrate intermediate.