Degradation of aqueous methyl tert-butyl ether by photochemical, biological, and their combined processes

The degradation of aqueous methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) at relatively high concentrations was investigated by various photo-induced oxidation processes such as UV/H2O2 and UV/TiO2 as well as biological processes and their combination. It was shown that the degradation of MTBE by UV/H2O2 and TiO2 p...

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Main Authors: Azadeh Asadi, Mehrab Mehrvar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2006-01-01
Series:International Journal of Photoenergy
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/IJP/2006/19790
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author Azadeh Asadi
Mehrab Mehrvar
author_facet Azadeh Asadi
Mehrab Mehrvar
author_sort Azadeh Asadi
collection DOAJ
description The degradation of aqueous methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) at relatively high concentrations was investigated by various photo-induced oxidation processes such as UV/H2O2 and UV/TiO2 as well as biological processes and their combination. It was shown that the degradation of MTBE by UV/H2O2 and TiO2 photocatalytic followed a first-order model with apparent rate constant of 1.31×10−1 and 1.21×10−2 min-1, respectively. It was observed that UV/H2O2/TiO2 process did not have any advantages over each of the other processes alone. The biodegradation of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) was evaluated using aerobic mixed culture with three different approaches, including ultimate biological oxygen demand (BODU) assessment, nonacclimated, and acclimated mixed cultures. The apparent rate constant for the biodegradation of MTBE by nonacclimated mixed culture was 4.36×10−2 day-1. It was shown that the acclimatization of the mixed cultures enhanced the rate of biodegradation of MTBE to 3.24×10−1mg L-1h-1. Finally, the effects of the photocatalytic pretreatment of aqueous MTBE on its subsequent biological treatment were studied. It was observed that the rate of bioreaction was not enhanced and the photocatalytic pretreatment had adverse effects on its biological treatment so that the apparent rate constant decreased to 2.83×10−1 mg L-1h-1.
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spelling doaj-art-0d7a7cc89aaf419e9c40f7197c3e17242025-02-03T01:23:51ZengWileyInternational Journal of Photoenergy1110-662X1687-529X2006-01-01200610.1155/IJP/2006/1979019790Degradation of aqueous methyl tert-butyl ether by photochemical, biological, and their combined processesAzadeh Asadi0Mehrab Mehrvar1Department of Chemical Engineering, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, CanadaDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, CanadaThe degradation of aqueous methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) at relatively high concentrations was investigated by various photo-induced oxidation processes such as UV/H2O2 and UV/TiO2 as well as biological processes and their combination. It was shown that the degradation of MTBE by UV/H2O2 and TiO2 photocatalytic followed a first-order model with apparent rate constant of 1.31×10−1 and 1.21×10−2 min-1, respectively. It was observed that UV/H2O2/TiO2 process did not have any advantages over each of the other processes alone. The biodegradation of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) was evaluated using aerobic mixed culture with three different approaches, including ultimate biological oxygen demand (BODU) assessment, nonacclimated, and acclimated mixed cultures. The apparent rate constant for the biodegradation of MTBE by nonacclimated mixed culture was 4.36×10−2 day-1. It was shown that the acclimatization of the mixed cultures enhanced the rate of biodegradation of MTBE to 3.24×10−1mg L-1h-1. Finally, the effects of the photocatalytic pretreatment of aqueous MTBE on its subsequent biological treatment were studied. It was observed that the rate of bioreaction was not enhanced and the photocatalytic pretreatment had adverse effects on its biological treatment so that the apparent rate constant decreased to 2.83×10−1 mg L-1h-1.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/IJP/2006/19790
spellingShingle Azadeh Asadi
Mehrab Mehrvar
Degradation of aqueous methyl tert-butyl ether by photochemical, biological, and their combined processes
International Journal of Photoenergy
title Degradation of aqueous methyl tert-butyl ether by photochemical, biological, and their combined processes
title_full Degradation of aqueous methyl tert-butyl ether by photochemical, biological, and their combined processes
title_fullStr Degradation of aqueous methyl tert-butyl ether by photochemical, biological, and their combined processes
title_full_unstemmed Degradation of aqueous methyl tert-butyl ether by photochemical, biological, and their combined processes
title_short Degradation of aqueous methyl tert-butyl ether by photochemical, biological, and their combined processes
title_sort degradation of aqueous methyl tert butyl ether by photochemical biological and their combined processes
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/IJP/2006/19790
work_keys_str_mv AT azadehasadi degradationofaqueousmethyltertbutyletherbyphotochemicalbiologicalandtheircombinedprocesses
AT mehrabmehrvar degradationofaqueousmethyltertbutyletherbyphotochemicalbiologicalandtheircombinedprocesses