Award Date

1-1-2000

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Engineering (ME)

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

First Committee Member

Jacimaria Ramos Batista

Number of Pages

212

Abstract

This thesis investigated the feasibility of using a membrane-immobilized biofilm reactor to remove perchlorate from waters. Perchlorate (ClO4 -) is easily reduced under anaerobic conditions to harmless chloride (Cl-). In this system, the perchlorate-contaminated water is physically separated from the biofilm by the membrane. Perchlorate diffuses, without the need of external energy, to the degrading biofilm, thereby minimizing the contamination of the product water by microbes. A mixed microbial culture capable biologically of reducing perchlorate was enriched and attached to the membrane surface. The results demonstrated the feasibility of using a membrane-immobilized biofilm reactor to remove perchlorate from waters. In addition, the results showed that nitrate and salinity negatively affect perchlorate biodegradation, while sulfate does not have a major effect on perchlorate biodegradation.

Keywords

Biofilm; Immobilized; Membrane; Perchlorate; Removal; Waters

Controlled Subject

Environmental engineering; Municipal engineering; Sanitary engineering

File Format

pdf

File Size

5785.6 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

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