ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on a treatment analysis query submitted by Joseph P. Nestor, a hydrogeologist with the Southern Pump and Tank Co. in Charlotte, North Carolina. The basic contaminants in ground water are benzene, toluene, xylenes, and ethylbenzene (BTXE). The BTXE compounds will each float on the ground water. The bioreactor can treat BTXE compounds to the 30 to 40 ppb range. The carbon adsorption and biological treatment system would be affected by much lower influent concentrations. Carbon adsorption is a separation process whereby the contaminants to be removed from the water are attracted to and held at the surface of activated carbon granules. Air stripping is a separation technology that takes advantage of the fact that certain chemicals are more soluble in air than in water. An air stripper only separates the organics from the water. The air stripper will be affected by regulations that cover air emissions.
