Chlorinated by-products including trihalomethanes (THMs) are formed due the reactions between the chlorine and natural organic substances. Since chlorination by-products are classified as potential carcinogenic by EPA, they are of importance for human health. THMs have the highest concentration of chlorination by products in drinking water with a maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 0.080 mg/L. In this study two THMS, namely, chloroform (CF) and dichlorobromomethane (DCBM) were investigated in two independent parallel Biotrickling filters, one with cometabolite and another one with bio surfactant. Ethanol and surfactin (supernatant of B. subtilis) were used as co metabolite and bio surfactant, respectively.  Adding co metabolite resulted removal efficiencies of 72% for CF and 74% for DCBM. Whereas at the same loading rate condition, the use of surfactin showed a better removal efficiency of 85% and 79% for CF and CBM, respectively.  Additionally, the biotrickling filter with surfactin showed better performance for higher mixture concentrations.  The study will further investigate the microbial diversity within both BTFs in order to get an insight of the performances.

Evaluations of biotrickling filters for the removal of mixtures of trihalomethanes under two environmental conditions

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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