BIODEGRADATION OF DICHLOROMETHANE IN A GRANULAR ACTIVATED CARBON FLUIDIZED-BED REACTOR

A biological fluidized-bed reactor (FBR) containing biomass attached t o granular activated carbon (GAG) was investigated for the treatment o f aqueous-phase dichloromethane (DCM). The system was directly inocula ted with fresh biomass solids collected from a General Electric Plasti cs wastewater treatment facility, located in Mount Vernon, Indiana. Th e biomass consumed DCM as its sole carbon and energy source following an acclimation period of approximately 8 days. Dichloromethane biodegr adation rates in excess of 40 kg/m(3).d were achieved during continuou s operation, with no detectable DCM ( < 1 mg/L) in the process effluen t. Steady-state data were collected to enable process scale-up. This s tudy confirmed that the biological GAC FBR is an environmentally accep table waste treatment configuration for the destruction of aqueous-pha se DCM.