Performance evaluation of granular activated carbon system at Pantex: Rapid small-scale column tests to simulate removal of high explosives from contaminated groundwater

A granular activated carbon (GAC) system is now in operation at Pantex to treat groundwater from the perched aquifer that is contaminated with high explosives. The main chemicals of concern are RDX and HMX. The system consists of two GAC columns in series. Each column is charged with 10,000 pounds of Northwestern LB-830 GAC. At the design flow rate of 325 gpm, the hydraulic loading is 6.47 gpm/ft{sup 2}, and the empty bed contact time is 8.2 minutes per column. Currently, the system is operating at less than 10% of its design flow rate, although flow rate increases are expected in the relatively near future. This study had several objectives: Estimate the service life of the GAC now in use at Pantex; Screen several GACs to provide a recommendation on the best GAC for use at Pantex when the current GAC is exhausted and is replaced; Determine the extent to which natural organic matter in the Pantex groundwater fouls GAC adsorption sites, thereby decreasing the adsorption capacity for high explosives; and Determine if computer simulation models could match the experimental results, thereby providing another tool to follow system performance

Biodegradation of high explosives on granular activated carbon [GAC]: Enhanced desorption of high explosives from GAC -- Batch studies

Adsorption to GAC is an effective method for removing high explosives (HE) compounds from water, but no permanent treatment is achieved. Bioregeneration, which treats adsorbed contaminants by desorption and biodegradation, is being developed as a method for reducing GAC usage rates and permanently degrading RDX and HMX. Because desorption is often the limiting mass transfer mechanism in bioregeneration systems, several methods for increasing the rate and extent of desorption of RDX and HMX are being studied. These include use of cosolvents (methanol and ethanol), surfactants (both anionic and nonionic), and {beta}- and {gamma}-cyclodextrins. Batch experiments to characterize the desorption of these HEs from GAC have been completed using Northwestern LB-830, the GAC being used at Pantex. Over a total of 11 days of desorption, about 3% of the adsorbed RDX was desorbed from the GAC using buffered water as the desorption fluid. In comparison, about 96% of the RDX was extracted from the GAC by acetonitrile over the same desorption period. Ethanol and methanol were both effective in desorbing RDX and HMX; higher alcohol concentrations were able to desorb more HE from the GAC. Surfactants varied widely in their abilities to enhance desorption of HEs. The most effective surfactant that was studied was sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), which desorbed 56.4% of the adsorbed RDX at a concentration of 500 mg SDS/L. The cyclodextrins that were used were marginally more effective than water. Continuous-flow column tests are underway for further testing the most promising of these methods. These results will be compared to column experiments that have been completed under baseline conditions (using buffered water as the desorption fluid). Results of this research will support modeling and design of further desorption and bioregeneration experiments

Methsnotrophic Biodegradation of Trichloroethylene in a Hollow Fiber Membrane Bioreactor

Biodegradation of Trichloroethlyene (TCE) in a Hollow Fiber Membrane Bioreactor Was Investigated using a Mutant of the Methanotrophic Bacteria, Methylosinus Trichosporium 0B3b. Contaminated Water Flowed through the Lumen (I.e., Fiber Interior), and the Bacteria Circulated through the Shell Side of the Membrane Module and an External Growth Reactor. in Mass Transfer Studies with a Radial Cross-Flow Membrane Module, 78.3-99.9% of the TCE Was Removed from the Lumen at Hydraulic Residence Times of 3-15 Min in the Lumen and the Shell. in Biodegradation Experiments, 80-95% of the TCE Was Removed from the Lumen at Hydraulic Residence Times of 5-9 Min in the Lumen. the TCE Transferred to the Shell Was Rapidly Biodegraded, with Rate Constants Ranging from 0.16 to 0.9 L (Mg of TSS)-1 Day-1. Radiochemical Data Showed that over 75% of the Transferred TCE Was Biodegraded in the Shell, with the Byproducts Being Approximately Equally Divided between Carbon Dioxide and Nonvolatiles. This Study Shows that a Hollow Fiber Membrane Bioreactor System Coupled with the Mutant Strain PP358 of M. Trichosporium 0B3b is a Very Promising Technology for Chlorinated Solvent Biodegradation. © 1995, American Chemical Society. All Rights Reserved

Bioremediation of RDX in the vadose zone beneath the Pantex Plant

The presence of dissolved high explosives (HE), in particular RDX and HMX, is well documented in the perched aquifer beneath the Pantex Plant, but the distribution of HE in the vadose zone has not yet been well defined. Although current remediation activities focus on the contamination in the perched aquifer, eventually regulatory concern is likely to turn to the residual contamination in the vadose zone. Sources of HE include the infiltration of past wastewater discharges from several HE-processing facilities through the ditch drainage system and leachate from former Landfill 3. With limited existing data on the HE distribution in the vadose zone and without preventive action, it must be assumed that residual HE could be leached into infiltrating water, providing a continuing supply of contamination to the perched aquifer. The purpose of this project was to more closely examine the fate and transport of HE in the vadose zone through mathematical modeling and laboratory experimentation. In particular, this report focuses on biodegradation as one possible fate of HE. Biodegradation of RDX in the vadose zone was studied because it is both present in highest concentration and is likely to be of the greatest regulatory concern. This study had several objectives: determine if indigenous soil organisms are capable of RDX biodegradation; determine the impact of electron acceptor availability and nutrient addition on RDX biodegradation; determine the extent of RDX mineralization (i.e., conversion to inorganic carbon) during biodegradation; and estimate the kinetics of RDX biodegradation to provide information for mathematical modeling of fate and transport

Cometabolism of Trihalomethanes by Nitrosomonas europaea

The ammonia-oxidizing bacterium Nitrosomonas europaea (ATCC 19718) was shown to degrade low concentrations (50 to 800 μg/liter) of the four trihalomethanes (trichloromethane [TCM], or chloroform; bromodichloromethane [BDCM]; dibromochloromethane [DBCM]; and tribromomethane [TBM], or bromoform) commonly found in treated drinking water. Individual trihalomethane (THM) rate constants ([Formula: see text]) increased with increasing THM bromine substitution, with TBM > DBCM > BDCM > TCM (0.23, 0.20, 0.15, and 0.10 liters/mg/day, respectively). Degradation kinetics were best described by a reductant model that accounted for two limiting reactants, THMs and ammonia-nitrogen (NH(3)-N). A decrease in the temperature resulted in a decrease in both ammonia and THM degradation rates with ammonia rates affected to a greater extent than THM degradation rates. Similarly to the THM degradation rates, product toxicity, measured by transformation capacity (T(c)), increased with increasing THM bromine substitution. Because both the rate constants and product toxicities increase with increasing THM bromine substitution, a water's THM speciation will be an important consideration for process implementation during drinking water treatment. Even though a given water sample may be kinetically favored based on THM speciation, the resulting THM product toxicity may not allow stable treatment process performance

Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria in Biofilters Removing Trihalomethanes Are Related to Nitrosomonas oligotropha ▿

Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in nitrifying biofilters degrading four regulated trihalomethanes—trichloromethane, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and tribromomethane—were related to Nitrosomonas oligotropha. N. oligotropha is associated with chloraminated drinking water systems, and its presence in the biofilters might indicate that trihalomethane tolerance is another reason that this bacterium is dominant in chloraminated systems

Monochloramine Cometabolism by Mixed-Culture Nitrifiers under Drinking Water Conditions

Chloramines are the second most used secondary disinfectant by United States water utilities. However, chloramination may promote nitrifying bacteria. Recently, monochloramine cometabolism by the pure culture ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, <i>Nitrosomonas europaea</i>, was shown to increase monochloramine demand. The current research investigated monochloramine cometabolism by nitrifying mixed cultures grown under more relevant drinking water conditions and harvested from sand-packed reactors before conducting suspended growth batch kinetic experiments. Four types of batch kinetic experiments were conducted: (1) positive controls to estimate ammonia kinetic parameters, (2) negative controls to account for biomass reactivity, (3) utilization associated product (UAP) controls to account for UAP reactivity, and (4) cometabolism experiments to estimate cometabolism kinetic parameters. Kinetic parameters were estimated in AQUASIM with a simultaneous fit to the experimental data. Cometabolism kinetics were best described by a first-order model. Monochloramine cometabolism kinetics were similar to those of ammonia metabolism, and monochloramine cometabolism accounted for 30% of the observed monochloramine loss. These results demonstrated that monochloramine cometabolism occurred in mixed cultures similar to those found in drinking water distribution systems; therefore, monochloramine cometabolism may be a significant contribution to monochloramine loss during nitrification episodes in drinking water distribution systems