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Aerated Biofiltration for Simultaneous Removal of Iron and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Groundwater
Author(s) -
Richard Don E.,
Dwyer Daryl F.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143001x143411
Subject(s) - biofilter , groundwater , aeration , environmental chemistry , chemistry , polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon , environmental science , groundwater pollution , environmental engineering , waste management , aquifer , organic chemistry , geology , geotechnical engineering , engineering
Filters incorporating the principles of biological accumulation have been used in Europe to remove iron from drinking water for many years. The authors of this study hypothesized that a modified biological iron‐removing filter could simultaneously degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in groundwater impacted by former manufactured gas plant (MGP) operations. The MGP‐impacted groundwater obtained for this study had an average total iron concentration of 3.8 mg/L and an average total dissolved PAH concentration of 3.0 mg/L. Naphthalene was the primary PAH, with an average concentration of 2.8 mg/L. The groundwater was passed intermittently through duplicate gravel‐media columns at 15 to 30 cm/d for 2 months while filtered air was delivered countercurrently at 4 mL/min. The columns remained partially saturated throughout the study. Flooding, which would have indicated plugging of the columns, was not observed, and the pressure needed to aerate the columns remained constant. Total iron in the effluent was below the detection limit of 0.1 mg/L (97% removal) for 40 days of operation. Removal of total PAHs, primarily two‐ and three‐ring compounds, averaged 99%. This single‐stage treatment process represents an economical alternative to biological treatment systems currently available for MGP‐impacted groundwater that require pretreatment to remove iron.