Objective: 

This project will demonstrate the efficacy of an innovative biological treatment technology to remove perchlorate from contaminated groundwater at a well site. Specific objectives include developing optimum bioreactor inoculation to reduce start-up time, determining post-treatment effluent needs to meet drinking water standards and future permitting by the California Department of Health Services, and developing design procedures for process scale-up.

Technology Description: 

The technology to be demonstrated utilizes naturally occurring microorganisms to degrade the perchlorate in conjunction with zero-valent iron (ZVI), a versatile reactive material used at hazardous waste sites. The ZVI serves as an attachment medium for the microorganisms and generates the hydrogen gas needed to carry out the perchlorate biodegradation. In addition, because these microorganisms require a low oxygen environment, the ZVI also removes any oxygen that may be present in the water.

Expected Benefits: 

This project will lead to the availability of a biological perchlorate removal technology that is comparable to current ion exchange perchlorate treatment at a significantly lower capital and operational cost. In addition to addressing perchlorate contamination, this technology may treat other contaminants concomitantly, including nitrate, heavy metals, trichloroethene (TCE) and tetrachloroethene (PCE), hexavalent chromium, uranium, and arsenic. (Anticipated Project Completion - 2009)

Principal Investigator:

Dr. Marc Deshusses

University of California Riverside

Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering

B321 Bourns Hall

Riverside, CA 92521

Telephone: (951) 827-2477

Fax: (951) 827-5696

E-mail: mdeshuss@engr.ucr.edu

DoD Liaison:

Ms. Barbara Sugiyama

Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center

1100 23rd Avenue, Code ESC 411

Port Hueneme, CA 93043

Telephone: (805) 982-1668

Fax: (805) 982-4304

E-mail: barbara.sugiyama@navy.mil