Mehrdad Farhadian - Laboratoire de Génie Chimique et Biochimique, Polytech’ Clermont-Ferrand, Université Blaise Pascal, Franc, Water and Environment group, Isfahan High Education and Research Institute, Iran
Christian Larroche - Laboratoire de Génie Chimique et Biochimique, Polytech’ Clermont-Ferrand, Université Blaise Pascal, Franc
Mehdi Borghei - ۳Biochemical and bioenvironmental research center, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
Julien Troquet - Laboratoire de Génie Chimique et Biochimique, Polytech’ Clermont-Ferrand, Université Blaise Pascal, Franc, Biobasic Environment Company, Clermont-Ferrand , France

Oil derivatives such as benzene, toluene and mixed xylenes (BTX) are classified into the group of most dangerous hydrocarbon compounds to the water sources because of their migration abilities and toxicity. In this research the treatment of contaminated water by BTX compounds is studied. Results indicated that air sparging in contaminated water can reduce monoaromatic hydrocarbon compounds from 125 mg/L to about 5-10 µg/L. This approach is not a green technology since volatile organic compounds are only transferred from liquid phase to the gas. An alternative way is BTX adsorption by granular activated charcoal (GAC) which is feasible, but replacement and disposal of GAC as hazardous waste is a major expense. Current investigation showed that BTX were adsorbed on the surface of GAC particles and then stabilized by the biomass at the surface of GAC particles. Bacteria not only degrades BTX but also can remove other adsorbed chemicals and thus afford biological active carbon regeneration. This approach is highly successful in removing BTX compounds from water. The process was more efficient for benzene, toluene and mixed xylenes in that order.

monoaromatic; BTX; bioremediation; contaminated water; biological activated charcoal