Method and apparatus for biodegradation of oxygenates

摘要

The present invention provides a method of treating groundwater or other water stream(s) contaminated with an oxygenate to degrade said oxygenate which comprises:a) inoculating a biodegrader capable of degrading said oxygenate on a packed activated carbon bed through a rigid tubular instrument having a plurality of holes in the part of the rigid tubular instrument used for inoculation of the carbon bed; andb) flowing said groundwater, or other water stream contaminated with said oxygenate through a structure having a top, bottom and sides and a predetermined volume containing said bed of activated carbon having said biodegrader inoculated thereon.and an apparatus for the same. The method is particularly effective for treating water contaminated with methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE) and/or t-butyl alcohol (TBA).