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BIODEGRADATION OF METHYL TERT-BUTYL ETHER USING AN INNOVATIVE BIOMASS CONCENTRATOR REACTOR
Citation:
Zein, M. M., M. T. Suidan, AND A D. Venosa*. BIODEGRADATION OF METHYL TERT-BUTYL ETHER USING AN INNOVATIVE BIOMASS CONCENTRATOR REACTOR. In Proceedings, 2003 American Water Works Association Annual Conference, Anaheim, CA, June 15 - 17, 2003. American Water Works Association, Denver, CO, ., (2003).
Description:
The aerobic biodegradation of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) was investigated using a pilot-scale Biomass Concentrator Reactor (BCR). The reactor was operated for a year at a flow rate of 2500 L/d of Cincinnati dechlorinated tap water and an influent MTBE concentration of 5 mg/L. At steady state conditions, the total removal efficiency of MTBE in the reactor exceeded 99.9%. Effluent concentrations of MTBE and its degradation byproduct tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) reached levels below 1 µg/L, with the latter consistently present at lower concentrations. In addition, the effluent was found to be of better quality than the GAC-treated tap water fed into the reactor as measured by dissolved organic carbon.