Fixed-bed biological treatment of perchlorate-contaminated.

A six-month pilot study was conducted to evaluate the use of fixed-bed (FXB) bioreactors to treat perchlorate-contaminated groundwater and to address some of the concerns associated with the full-scale implementation of such a process. The pilot data illustrated that perchlorate-reducing FXB bioreactors can be acclimated using organisms indigenous to the local aquifer; can achieve sustained perchlorate removal to below the analytical detection limit using reasonable contact times; can produce biologically stable effluent; do not foster the growth of pathogenic bacteria; and are robust with respect to system upsets. Based on this project, the California Department of Health Services conditionally approved FXB bioreactors for treating perchlorate-contaminated drinking water, making it possible to consider the full-scale design and implementation of FXB biological perchlorate treatment in California. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]