Abstract:
A process for removing selenium is described in which selenium is removed from an aqueous source for discharge into a lake, pond, river or stream by a combination of biological reduction of selenium followed by adsorption. The aqueous source first passes through a bioreactor which reduces the selenium compounds in solution to organic selenium and selenide. An adsorber, such as activated carbon, is then used to remove the organic selenium and selenide from solution. Optionally, a pump introduces a carbon source such as molasses to the bioreactor to initiate and sustain microbiological metabolic processes.