Open AccessDegradation of hazardous chemicals in liquid radioactive wastes from biomedical research using a mixed microbial population
Author(s) -
J.H. Wolfram,
Martin Radtke,
J.E. Wey,
Robert D. Rogers,
Edward H. Rau
Publication year - 1997
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/671847
Subject(s) - hazardous waste , population , waste management , biodegradation , methanol , chemistry , human decontamination , microorganism , degradation (telecommunications) , pulp and paper industry , biomass (ecology) , phenol , bioprocess , toluene , environmental chemistry , environmental science , organic chemistry , chemical engineering , biology , telecommunications , agronomy , bacteria , computer science , engineering , genetics , demography , sociology
As the costs associated with treatment of mixed wastes by conventional methods increase, new technologies will be investigated as alternatives. This study examines the potential of using a selected mixed population of microorganisms to treat hazardous chemical compounds in liquid low level radioactive wastes from biomedical research procedures. Microorganisms were isolated from various waste samples and enriched against compounds known to occur in the wastes. Individual isolates were tested for their ability to degrade methanol, ethanol, phenol, toluene, phthalates, acetonitrile, chloroform, and trichloroacetic acid. Following these tests, the organisms were combined in a media with a mixture of the different compounds. Three compounds: methanol, acetonitrile, and pseudocumene, were combined at 500 microliter/liter each. Degradation of each compound was shown to occur (75% or greater) under batch conditions with the mixed population. Actual wastes were tested by adding an aliquot to the media, determining the biomass increase, and monitoring the disappearance of the compounds. The compounds in actual waste were degraded, but at different rates than the batch cultures that did not have waste added. The potential of using bioprocessing methods for treating mixed wastes from biomedical research is discussed