Bio degradation of oxyanions such as perchlorate on ion exchange resins

Abstract

Systems and methods for removing perchlorate load off of ion exchange resins are disclosed. The systems and methods rely upon direct contact between the resin and a liquid product formed by the culturing of perchlorate-destroying microorganisms. These methods can be incorporated into methods for removing perchlorate from aqueous streams. A resin product comprising an anion exchange resin with a coating of perchlorate-destroying microorganisms on its surface is also disclosed.

1 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . An ion exchange resin for reducing a perchlorate contaminant in a solution comprising: a resin comprising an anion capable of exchanging with a perchlorate ion and a film of perchlorate-destroying microorganism absorbed on a surface of the resin. 
     
     
         37 . The ion exchange resin of  claim 36 , wherein the perchlorate contaminant is in water. 
     
     
         38 . The ion exchange resin of  claim 36 , wherein the resin is a strong base resin, strong acid resin, or a weak base resin. 
     
     
         39 . The ion exchange resin of  claim 38 , wherein the strong base resin comprises a polymer structure. 
     
     
         40 . The ion exchange resin of  claim 39 , wherein the polymer structure is a polystyrene. 
     
     
         41 . The ion exchange resin of  claim 40 , wherein the polystyrene comprises a quaternary ammonium attached to the polystyrene. 
     
     
         42 . The ion exchange resin of  claim 36 , wherein the anion capable of exchanging with the perchlorate ion is a chloride ion. 
     
     
         43 . The ion exchange resin of  claim 36 , wherein the perchlorate-destroying microorganism is a fluid suspension comprising cultured perchlorate-destroying microorganisms or a supernatant liquid comprising perchlorate-destroying microorganism culture. 
     
     
         44 . The ion exchange resin of  claim 36 , wherein the perchlorate-destroying microorganism is selected from the group consisting of:
 a mixed culture found in municipal anaerobic sludge;   a mixed culture found in activated sludge;     vibrio dechloroticans cuznesove;      strain GR-1;     wohonella succinogenes;        ideonella dechloratoms;  and     acinebacter thermotoleranticus.      
     
     
         45 . The ion exchange resin of  claim 36 , wherein the anion on the resin exchanges with the perchlorate ion in the solution resulting in a perchlorate loaded anion exchange resin. 
     
     
         46 . The ion exchange resin of  claim 45 , wherein the perchlorate-destroying microorganism reacts with a perchlorate load present on the perchlorate-loaded anion exchange resin converting the perchlorate to a nonperchlorate reaction product. 
     
     
         47 . The ion exchange resin of  claim 46 , wherein the nonperchlorate reaction product comprises at least one of chloride, chlorate, hypochlorite, or chlorite. 
     
     
         48 . The ion exchange resin of  claim 36 , wherein the resin further comprises an ion capable of exchanging with a nitrate and/or a sulfate present in the perchlorate-contaminated solution. 
     
     
         49 . A process for preparing an ion exchange resin capable of reducing a perchlorate contaminant in a solution comprising:
 a) passing an ion exchange resin carrying an ion capable of exchanging with a perchlorate ion through a perchlorate solution thereby absorbing the perchlorate ion on to the resin;   b) adding the ion exchange resin with the absorbed perchlorate to a bioreactor containing a perchlorate-destroying microorganism;   c) allowing the perchlorate-destroying microorganism to grow on a surface of the ion exchange resin until the absorbed perchlorate is substantially consumed; and   d) removing the ion exchange resin with the perchlorate-destroying microorganism on the surface of the ion exchange resin, thereby preparing the ion exchange resin capable of reducing a perchlorate contaminant in a solution.