Efficient degradation of MtBE and other gasoline-originated compounds by means of a biological reactor of novel conception: two case studies in Italy and the USA

Water Sci Technol. 2010;61(3):807-12. doi: 10.2166/wst.2010.854.

Abstract

The presence of MtBE in groundwaters, due to its past use as an oxygenate additive to "green" gasoline, poses potential threats to human health as a possible carcinogen. As its chemical properties render it very mobile and poorly treatable by means of bioremediation, chemical oxidation, stripping, or carbon adsorption, a new, ex-situ treatment process was recently developed by the US EPA and the University of Cincinnati. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of this pump-and-treat technology in actual contaminated groundwater plumes in the field in two different conditions. The technology based on the combination of aerobic degradation and a special filtration medium is simple to operate, easily meets the challenge of producing a highly polished effluent in a cost-effective fashion, compared to other processes.

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollutants / chemistry*
  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Equipment Design
  • Filtration / methods
  • Gasoline*
  • Health
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Methyl Ethers / chemistry*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Polyethylene
  • Rhode Island
  • Solvents / chemistry
  • United States
  • United States Environmental Protection Agency
  • Water Pollutants / analysis*
  • Water Pollutants / chemistry

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Gasoline
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Methyl Ethers
  • Solvents
  • Water Pollutants
  • methyl tert-butyl ether
  • Polyethylene