Biological drinking water treatment for nitrate and pesticide (endosulfan) elimination

This study shows how a combination of denitrification and pesticide removal is possible. A reactor with granulated poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) was operated in an upflow-mode with nitrate and α-endosulfan containing water. The polymer was used as a substrate for denitrification and simultaneously as sorbent for the pesticide α-endosulfan. The experiments showed that nitrate was removed at high denitrification rates and without accumulation of nitrite. α-endosulfan, which was added to the influent, was not found in the effluent. Doubts that the pesticide could interfere with the biological process were not justified here.