Mercury removal from water streams through the ion exchange membrane bioreactor concept

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials Vol. 264; pp. 65 - 70
• Main Authors: Oehmen, Adrian, Vergel, Dario, Fradinho, Joana, Reis, Maria A.M., Crespo, João G., Velizarov, Svetlozar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 15.01.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Bioreactors; Biotechnology; byproducts; cation exchange; Chemical engineering; Continental surface waters; Donnan dialysis; drinking water; environmental impact; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hazardous Substances - isolation & purification; heavy metals; human health; industrial effluents; Ion Exchange; Ion exchange membrane bioreactor (IEMB); Membranes, Artificial; mercury; Mercury - isolation & purification; Mercury bioremediation; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Mixed microbial cultures; Natural water pollution; Others; Pollution; Reactors; streams; toxicity; Various methods and equipments; Waste Water - chemistry; Water Pollutants, Chemical - isolation & purification; water pollution; Water Purification - instrumentation; Water treatment; Water treatment and pollution; Water treatment; Donnan dialysis; Mixed microbial cultures; Ion exchange membrane bioreactor (IEMB); Mercury bioremediation; Drinking water; Biological purification; Transport process; Ion exchange membrane; Health and environment; Decontamination; Production; Stream; Bioremediation; Public health; Reaction product; Contamination; Heavy metal; Bioreactor; Industrial waste water; Environment impact; Surface water; Cation exchange membrane; Dialysis; Water pollution; Mercury
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.10.067

•Mercury removal from water achieved through the ion exchange membrane bioreactor.•Mercury removal to levels below the 1ppb drinking water limit were achieved.•>98% removal of Hg achieved, with >98% biologically reduced from Hg(II) to Hg(0).•Higher water throughputs (>5 times) achieved after membrane pre-treatment.•Minimal contaminated waste was produced=clean environmental technology. Mercury is a highly toxic heavy metal that causes human health problems and environmental contamination. In this study, an ion exchange membrane bioreactor (IEMB) process was developed to achieve Hg(II) removal from drinking water and industrial effluents. Hg(II) transport through a cation exchange membrane was coupled with its bioreduction to Hg0 in order to achieve Hg removal from concentrated streams, with minimal production of contaminated by-products observed. This study involves (1) membrane selection, (2) demonstration of process effectiveness for removing Hg from drinking water to below the 1ppb recommended limit, and (3) process application for treatment of concentrated water streams, where >98% of the Hg was removed, and the throughput of contaminated water was optimised through membrane pre-treatment. The IEMB process represents a novel mercury treatment technology with minimal generation of contaminated waste, thereby reducing the overall environmental impact of the process.