Development and mathematical modeling of a two-stage reactor system for trichloroethylene degradation using Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b

Abstract

A two-stage reactor system was developed for the continuous degradation of gas-phase trichloroethylene (TCE). Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b was immobilized on activated carbon in a TCE degradation reactor, trickling biofilter (TBF). The TBF was coupled with a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) to allow recirculation of microbial cells from/to the TBF for the reactivation of inactivated cells during TCE degradation. The mass transfer aspect of the TBF was analyzed, and mass transfer coefficient of 3.9 h(-1) was estimated. The loss of soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) activity was modeled based on a material balance on the CSTR and TBF, and transformation capacity (T (c)) was determined to be 20.2 micromol mg(-1). Maximum TCE degradation rate of 525 mg 1(-1) d(-1) was obtained and reactor has been stably operated for more than 270 days.

Biodegradation of gaseous styrene by Brevibacillus sp. using a novel agitating biotrickling filter

“…A BTF consists of a packed bed on which microbial biofilm grows and a nutrient-trickling system. BTFs often exhibit higher treatment performance than BFs, because more active biomass can be accumulated and reactor operation conditions can be effectively controlled (Chen et al 2006;Hwang et al 2007; Lee et al 2003). One drawback of BTFs is excess biomass accumulation on a packed bed.…”

Biocatalytic Conversion of Methane to Methanol as a Key Step for Development of Methane-Based Biorefineries

“…Methanotrophs are bacteria that utilize methane as their sole source of carbon for growth and are capable of activating stable C-H bonds using MMO under ambient conditions [40]. Methanotrophs have recently attracted a great deal of attention from the field of biodegradation, specifically with regard to a wide range of priority pollutants, including trichloroethylene, through co-metabolic reactions catalyzed by MMO [20,27]. In general, methanotrophs can be classified into three groups based on physiology (Fig.…”

Kinetics of bio-filtration of trichloroethylene by methanotrophs in presence of methanol

“…These enzymes co-metabolise TCE in presence of methane as the primary growth substrate. In most of the earlier studies pure cultures of methanotrophic species have been used for TCE biodegradation using continuous culture methods (Fitch et al, 1996;Hwang et al, 2007). It is difficult to maintain a pure bacterial population in a full scale continuous biological treatment unit due to contamination.…”