ABSTRACT
The application of biological technology to contaminated ground water is probably the least understood of major technologies. Many articles have been written on in situ biological treatment, but very few have been presented on above-ground biological treatment systems. This chapter presents a case history including a landfill leachate contaminating a nearby stream, unusual compounds, laboratory treatability studies, and a full-scale installation that has been in operation for more than a year. The final point of interest is that this biological treatment system has been operating at a closed industrial site with a minimal amount of operator attention. While activated carbon treatment was progressing, the property owner was interested in seeing if biological treatment could be used to remediate the leachate. Several laboratory studies were planned to investigate if biological treatment could successfully reduce toluic acid concentrations under aerobic or anoxic conditions, and to generate process design data.
