A System for Removing Trichloroethane, Trichloroethene, and 1,4-Dioaxane from Contaminated Wastewater

This invention relates to a synergistic system featuring coupled precious-metal catalysis and biodegradation in series.  It contains methods for forming catalyst-film capable of removing TCA and TCE.  It contains methods for forming ethane-oxidizing biofilm capable of 1,4-dioxane biodegradation.  It contains methods for removing TCA, TCE, and 1,4-D using the synergistic system containing a reactor with catalysts followed by a reactor with microorganisms.  In a certain embodiment, the system comprises a membrane, a catalyst-precursor medium, a microorganism-enrichment medium, an inoculant comprising a biofilm-forming population of microorganisms, and a hydrogen-gas source along with an oxygen-gas source.

Advantages

• State-of-the-art technology that removes TCA, TCE 1,4-dioxane which cannot be done solely by chemical or biological processes.
• Easy yet accurate method of chemical regulation to mitigate these chemical toxins.