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MINERALIZATION OF MTBE WITH VARIOUS PRIMARY SUBSTRATES
Citation:
Wilson, G. J., A. P. Richter, M. T. Suidan, AND A D. Venosa*. MINERALIZATION OF MTBE WITH VARIOUS PRIMARY SUBSTRATES. Presented at Second International Conference on Remediation of Chlorinated & Recalcitrant Compounds, Monterey, CA, 5/22-25/2000.
Description:
Five specialized bioreactors have been operated for over a year to evaluate the biodegradability of the fuel oxygenate methyl-t-butyl -t-butyl ether (MTBE) under difference substrate/co-substrate conditions. One bioreactor has been fed MTBE at an influent concentration of 150 mg/L as the only organic carbon source. In the other reactors, MTBE has been fed at an influent concentration of 75mg/L with the balance of the COD fed as either ethanol, diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether (DIPE), or benzene/toluene/ethylbenzene/xylene (BTEX) compounds. The reactors were seeded with a mixed culture from several sources. A 10-L porous pot has been placed inside each reactor to facilitate exit of the treated effluent while retaining the biomass. Effluent from eacg bioreactor had been monitored by measuring the concentration of MTBE and its intermediate breakdown products in both the liquid effluent and in the exhaust gas. The concentration of MTBE in the effluent from all five reactors has been consistently below 1.0 to 5.0 ug/L. No intermediates or end-products from the biodegradation of MTBE have been found in the effluent. These findings demonstrate that MTBE can be effectively mineralized biologically in an ex-situ reactor to extremely low levels if a high enough sludge age and biomass concentration are maintained.