Support containing particulate adsorbent and microorganisms for removal

Abstract

A biologically active support for removing pollutants from a fluid stream such as waste water is prepared. The support is formed of a polymeric foam substrate coated with a composition containing a particulate adsorbent which adsorbs, then releases pollutants, and a polymeric binder that binds the adsorbent to the surface of the substrate. The binder contains a suspension aid, and one or more pollutant-degrading microorganisms are adhered to the surface of the coated support. The binder preferably has a T.sub.g of lower than or equal to about 250.degree. C. and may be a latex. Examples of suspension aids are surfactants and polyanionic polypeptides such as ammonium caseinate. The adsorbent is preferably a carbon material such as coal, charcoal, carbon black and activated carbon. Other adsorbents are silica gel, active clays, zeolites, hydrophobic and ion exchange resins, and molecular sieves. To remove pollutants, the biologically active support is placed in a reactor and a fluid stream containing a pollutant such as phenol is passed through the reactor where the pollutant is degraded by the microorganism and adsorbed to the adsorbent. The adsorbent acts as a buffer by adsorbing excess pollutant from solution when the pollutant concentration increases and when the pollutant concentration decreases releases pollutant into solution where the microorganism degrades the pollutant.