AWWA WQTC64179

The biological brine treatment was evaluated through both bench- and pilot-scale studies using both acetate and hydrogen as electron donors. Pilot-scale demonstration using acetate-fed sequencing batch reactor (SBR) showed that the process was able to consistently reduce perchlorate and nitrate concentrations in the spent brine (6% NaCl) below treatment goals (ClO₄^- < 100 µg/L and NO₃^- < 0.5 mg/L) for 20 cycles. Bench-scale testing with 100 mg/L perchlorate and 100 mg/L nitrate laden synthetic brine showed that hydrogen-fed membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) could demonstrate about 100% nitrate reduction and about 60% perchlorate reduction. Includes 20 references, tables, figures.