Using upstream oxidants to minimize surface biofouling and improve hydraulic performance in GAC biofilters.

The combination of biological growth and particle loading can adversely affect hydraulic performance in drinking water biofilters. In this study, upstream oxidant addition was used to distribute biologically-derived filter clogging in granular activated carbon (GAC) biofilters. Oxidant penetration was assessed during pilot-scale operation and backwashing of dual media (GAC/sand) and multimedia (GAC/anthracite/sand) biofilters.

The control of disinfection byproducts and their precursors in biologically active filtration processes.

While disinfection provides hygienically safe drinking water, the disinfectants react with inorganic or organic precursors, leading to the formation of harmful disinfection byproducts (DBPs). Biological filtration is a process in which an otherwise conventional granular filter is designed to remove not only fine particulates but also dissolved organic matters (e.g.

Isolation and characterization of a bacterium capable of removing taste- and odor-causing 2-methylisoborneol from water.

2-Methylisoborneol (MIB), a metabolite of blue-green algae, has been implicated in causing unpalatable drinking water throughout the world. Current non-biological water treatment technologies are ineffective in removing MIB from potable water or are cost-prohibitive, and biological applications may address these problems. We have isolated and characterized a bacterium derived from lake water and capable of aerobically degrading MIB.