Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2011NE218B

A Cost Effective Fixed Film Atrazine Treatment Utilizing Nitrate as a Nutrient

Institute: Nebraska
Year Established: 2011 Start Date: 2011-03-01 End Date: 2012-05-31
Total Federal Funds: $19,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $40,523

Principal Investigators: Mohamed Dahab, Ahmed Hosni

Project Summary: Extensive agricultural activity in Nebraska has led to the presence of both atrzaine and nitrates in ground water streams in high concentrations. Ground water present a very important water source to several Nebraska utilities. While contamination levels for both contaminants are at the acceptable levels, yet the regulations for maximum contaminant level concentrations are at continuous review. The current research investigates the anaerobic treatment of atrazine using nitrates as a nutrient in a scenario where ground water stream will be obstructed by a bio-wall utilizing mulch as a material for the substrate for fixed film growth.