Removal of perchlorate and nitrate in an ion exchange membrane bioreactor

The ion exchange membrane bioreactor (IEBM) concept is based on the use of a non-porous ion exchange membrane, acting as a barrier between water, containing one or more target inorganic charged pollutants, and a biological compartment, containing a microbial culture able to degrade (transform) these pollutants to harmless products. In this study, the IEMB process potential for treating drinking water streams, in which https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"> C l O 4 - may be present as a trace ion was evaluated. The results showed that https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"> C l O 4 - and https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"> N O 3 - ions could be simultaneously transported and biologically reduced. For a model polluted stream containing 100 ppb of https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"> C l O 4 - and 60 ppm of https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"> N O 3 - , the concentrations of both ions in the treated stream dropped below the recommended levels of 18 ppb for https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"> C l O 4 - and 25 ppm for https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"> N O 3 - , which corresponded to a treated water production rate of about https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"> 30 L / m 2 h .