Ion exchange (IX) is one of the best available technologies for perchlorate and nitrate
treatment in drinking water application. However, this process produces a significant
volume of concentrated waste that requires special handling and subsequent disposal. The
disposal options for the residuals are frequently limited by local regulations or are very
costly. Therefore, it is important to develop an effective, sustainable and eco-friendly
strategy to deal with concentrated IX residuals. This paper demonstrates pilot-scale
application of biologically enhanced acetate-fed fluidized bed reactor (FBR) for
perchlorate and nitrate reduction from IX residuals. The results of the pilot testing
showed that nitrate could be reduced from the IX concentrate and the biologically treated
brine could be reused for regenerating the IX process for multiple times without
impacting the performance of the IX process.
Includes 26 references, tables, figures.