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Water Pollution pp 31–60Cite as

Transformation of Organic Micropollutants by Biological Processes

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Part of the book series: The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry ((HEC5,volume 5 / 5B))

Abstract

Although the main goal of biological drinking-water treatment is production of a biologically stable drinking water, biological processes can also remove organic micropollutants that are of a health concern or that cause tastes and odors. Micropollutants are usually removed as secondary substrates, which means that their oxidation does not provide sufficient electrons or energy to support biomass growth and maintenance. This article develops the biochemical fundamentals and quantitative tools for describing the secondary utilization of micropollutants in biofilm processes. It connects the removals of the secondary substrates to the main goal of treatment, removal of biodegradable organic matter. The article critically reviews the biochemical potential for degrading micropollutants commonly found in drinking-water supplies: petroleum hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and taste-and-odor compounds.

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Abbreviations

a :

specific surface area of biofilm, m−1

C 2 :

adsorbed density of the secondary substrate, gs gx−1

D 2 :

molecular diffusion coefficient for the secondary substrate in the bulk liquid, m2 day−1

D f2 :

molecular diffusion coefficient for the secondary substrate in the biofilm, m2 day−1

D*f :

D f2/D 2

h :

liquid holdup

H 2 :

Henry’s law constant for the secondary substrate, m3 atm mol−1

J 2 :

secondary-substrate flux, g2 m−2 day−1

J*:

dimensionless flux

k m :

mass-transport coefficient, m3 day−1

K 2 :

secondary-substrate concentration at which the utilization rate is one-half the maximum rate, gs m−3

KLa2 :

overall mass-transfer rate coefficient for exchange of the secondary substrate between gas and water phases, day−1

K o :

half-maximum-rate concentration for oxygen, go m−3

K p :

linear partition coefficient, m3 gx −1

K′p :

adsorption coefficient for Eq. (24)

L*:

L2/τ

L 2 :

thickness of an effective diffusion layer for the secondary substrate, m

L f :

biofilm thickness, m

L*f :

L f/τ

MW 2 :

molecular weight of the secondary substrate, gs mol−1

M x :

rate at which biomass is removed from the reactor, gx day−1

n :

adsorption exponent

O f :

the dissolved oxygen concentration at a position in the biofilm, go m−3

P 2 :

partial pressure of the secondary substrate, atm

Q :

liquid flow rate, m3 day−1

q m2 :

maximum specific rate of secondary-substrate utilization, gs gx−3 day−1

r ads :

rate of adsorption of the secondary substrate to biomass or other solids, gs m−3 day−1

r diff2 :

rate of secondary-substrate accumulation due to diffusion at a point in the biofilm, gs m−3 day−1

r ut2 :

rate of secondary-substrate utilization by suspended biomass, gs m−3 day−1

r utf2 :

rate of secondary-substrate utilization at a point in the biofilm, gs m−3 day−1

r vol :

rate of volatilization of the secondary substrate, gs m−3 day−1

S 2 :

concentration of secondary substrate in the bulk liquid, gs m−3

S f2 :

secondary-substrate concentration at a point in the biofilm, gs m−3

S min :

minimum substrate concentration to support a steady-state biofilm, gs m−1

S s2 :

secondary-substrate concentration at the outer surface of the biofilm, gs m−3

S 2 0 :

influent secondary-substrate concentration, gs m−3

S*:

S 2/K 2 = dimensionless secondary = substrate concentration

S*s :

S s2/K 2

S′s :

checking value of S*s

EquationSource% MathType!MTEF!2!1!+- % feaagCart1ev2aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn % hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr % 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9 % vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr-x % fr-xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaGabm4uayaara % WaaSbaaSqaaiaaikdaaeqaaaaa!37CC!]]</EquationSource><EquationSource Format="TEX"><![CDATA[$$ {\bar S_2}$$ :

the water-phase secondary-substrate concentration that is in equilibrium with the existing gas-phase concentration, gs m−3

t :

time, d

V :

total volume of reactor or reactor segment, m3

X f :

biomass density in the biofilm, gx m−3

z :

distance dimension normal to the biofilm surface, m

τ :

standard biofilm depth dimension = EquationSource% MathType!MTEF!2!1!+- % feaagCart1ev2aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn % hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr % 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9 % vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr-x % fr-xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaWaaOaaaeaaca % aIYaGaam4samaaBaaaleaacaaIYaaabeaakiaadseadaWgaaWcbaGa % aGOmaaqabaGccaGGVaGaamyCamaaBaaaleaacaWGTbGaamOEaaqaba % GccaWGybWaaSbaaSqaaiaadAgaaeqaaOGaaiilaaWcbeaaaaa!40C6!]]</EquationSource><EquationSource Format="TEX"><![CDATA[$$ \sqrt {2{K_2}{D_2}/{q_{mz}}{X_f},} $$ , m

η :

effectiveness factor

η′:

checking value of η

φ:

\( \sqrt 2 L_f^*/{(1 + 2S_S^{*'})^{1/2}} \)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL, 60208-3109, USA

    Bruce E. Rittmann

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  1. Bruce E. Rittmann
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection, P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands

    Jiri Hrubec

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Rittmann, B.E. (1995). Transformation of Organic Micropollutants by Biological Processes. In: Hrubec, J. (eds) Water Pollution. The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, vol 5 / 5B. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-48468-4_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-48468-4_3

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