Method for removing contaminants from water using a membrane biofilm reactor

1. A method for reducing the concentration of contaminants in water, comprising:

(a) providing an influent contaminated water to a first membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) device comprising a plurality of hollow filaments;

(b) introducing a microorganism into the influent water, the microorganism capable of forming a biofilm on the plurality of hollow filaments;

(c) operating the first MBfR device in a recycle mode for a first period of time sufficient to form the biofilm, and

(d) operating the first MBfR device in a feed mode, using the contaminated water, to produce effluent water comprising a reduced level of contaminant compared to the influent contaminated water.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said providing comprises providing an influent contaminated water comprising a contaminant selected from the group consisting of nitrate, perchlorate and trichloroethylene (TCE).

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the influent contaminated water comprises the contaminant TCE and said operating comprises operating to produce an effluent water comprising a reduced level of TCE compared to the influent water.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said providing comprises providing an influent contaminated water comprising nitroso-dimethyl-amine (NDMA), and said operating comprises operating to produce an effluent water comprising a reduced level of NDMA compared to the influent contaminated water.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

(e) operating the first MBfR device in a recycle mode, using influent contaminated water comprising at least a portion of effluent water from (d), for a second period of time sufficient to generate additional biofilm; and

(f) operating the first MBfR device in a feed mode, using influent contaminated water comprising at least a portion of effluent water from (d), to produce an effluent water with a reduced level of a contaminant in the influent contaminated water.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said providing comprises providing an influent contaminated water comprising a contaminant selected from the group consisting of nitrate, perchlorate and trichloroethylene (TCE).

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein said providing comprises providing an influent contaminated water further comprising nitroso-dimethyl-amine (NDMA), and said operating the first MBfR device in a feed mode produce an effluent water in (f) with a reduced level of NDMA compared to the influent contaminated water of (a).

8. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

(g) applying the effluent water from (f) to a second MBfR device having a biofilm; and

(h) operating the second MBfR device in a feed mode, using as influent water the effluent water from (f), to produce effluent water from the second MBfR device having further reduced level of contaminant compared to the level of contaminant in the effluent water from the first MBfR device.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said introducing comprises introducing microorganisms that are autotrophic bacteria.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said introducing comprises introducing microorganisms that are heterotrophic bacteria.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said providing comprises providing an MBfR device comprising hollow filaments made from a material selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, cellulose triacetate, Rayon®, and composites thereof.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said providing comprises providing an MBfR device comprising polypropylene hollow filaments.