Method for Treating Reducible Compound Residues Using Iron-Containing Bioreactor
AssigneeUnited States of America - US Army
InventorsHeather Marie Knotek-Smith, David Lyman Smith
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Abstract
An iron containing bioreactor for treating explosive compounds and other organics in contaminated surface water is disclosed. The bioreactor can be located either on-ground or in-ground at a location across which contaminated surface water flows. In one configuration the reactor is made up of (i) indigenous microbes, (ii) acetate, (iii) a low density iron-containing bed, and contains anaerobic zones in at least one portion of the flowpath. The reactor reduces the concentration of explosive compounds to below 10 ppb and also maintains this explosive compound reduction level for a period of at least one year without replenishing the microbes or iron.
Claims16
A method for removing explosive compounds from contaminated surface water using a bioreactor, said bioreactor located either on-ground or in-ground at a location across which said contaminated surface water flows, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an iron containing bioreactor with anaerobic zones, said bioreactor comprising (i) indigenous microbes, (ii) acetate (iii) a low density iron-containing bed,
- and (iv) anaerobic zone in at least one portion of the flowpath.
- (b) providing a flow of said contaminated surface water into said bioreactor,
- (c) contacting said explosive compounds with said low density iron whereby said iron is reduced,
- (d) contacting said reduced iron with said microbes whereby said iron is oxidized, and
- (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) such that a concentration of said explosive compounds is lowered to below 10 ppb in the treated surface water, and wherein said explosive compound reduction level is maintained for a period of at least one year without replenishing said microbes or iron.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.