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

摘要

The presence of MtBE in groundwaters, due to its past use as an oxygenate additive to “green”ngasoline, poses potential threats to human health as a possible carcinogen. As its chemicalnproperties render it very mobile and poorly treatable by means of bioremediation, chemicalnoxidation, stripping, or carbon adsorption, a new, ex-situ treatment process was recentlyndeveloped by the US EPA and the University of Cincinnati. The objective of the study was tonevaluate the effectiveness of this pump-and-treat technology in actual contaminated groundwaternplumes in the field in two different conditions. The technology based on the combination of aerobicndegradation and a special filtration medium is simple to operate, easily meets the challenge ofnproducing a highly polished effluent in a cost-effective fashion, compared to other processes.