Biological treatment of waste solutions generated from the remediation of perchlorate-contaminated waters

This thesis investigates the feasibility of combining ion exchange and biological reduction to remove perchlorate contamination from waters and eliminate it from the environment. Perchlorate can be removed from water by ion exchange. However, regeneration of these resins creates a waste stream, concentrating the perchlorate and other components in the regenerant solution. This waste stream can then be channeled to a biological reactor where perchlorate is reduced by microorganisms. Perchlorate-reducing microorganisms are ubiquitous in nature, yet biological treatment of these waste streams would expose these microorganisms to high salt or ammonium concentrations and high perchlorate levels. In studying the impact of these three parameters on a mixed culture of perchlorate reducers, results showed high concentrations of salt, ammonium and perchlorate negatively affected the biological reduction of perchlorate; however, possible acclimation of these microorganisms to high ammonium and perchlorate levels may be possible.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Engineering (ME)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Year

2002

Author dc:creator

• Gingras, Tina Mary

Contributors dc:contributor

• David E. James

Statement dc:rights

• IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

https://oasis.library.unlv.edu/rtds/1483

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:oasis.library.unlv.edu:rtds-2482