Use of hydrogen peroxide for subsurface remediation: Microbial responses and their implications

Miscellaneous · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:5710746

Fiorenza, S

Bioremediation uses microorganisms to degrade chemicals of interest and can be limited by mineral nutrients and terminal electron acceptors, especially oxygen. This research investigated in situ bioremediation with hydrogen peroxide (H[sub 2]O[sub 2]) as a supplemental oxygen source, added in increasing concentration, and addressed the microbial responses to H[sub 2]O[sub 2]. The microbial responses studied were changes in microbial numbers, population structure, degradative ability, and adaptation by induction of catalase and superoxide dismutase. Several assays were developed for this work. Batch experiments, using microcosms of aquifer material from two sites, Traverse City, MI (TCM) and Granger, IN (GI), contaminated with gasoline, determined mineralization of [sub 14]C-toluene. Aquifer material treated with H[sub 2]O[sub 2] in situ in GI mineralized more toluene than untreated contaminated material; when supplemented with H[sub 2]O[sub 2], it had a greater rate of mineralization. These results indicated that subsurface microorganisms had adapted to the H[sub 2]O[sub 2] applied in GI. At a field demonstration in TCM, heterotrophs and hydrocarbon degraders declined in deep, uncontaminated subsurface cores and deep level cluster wells 7 feet and 31 feet from the H[sub 2]O[sub 2] injection wells, demonstrating toxicity. Microbial numbers were elevated and soil catalase activity was induced in shallow, contaminated cores at 31 and 62 foot distances after the addition of H[sub 2]O[sub 2], indicating adaptation. Columns filled with slightly contaminated aquifer material from TCM were perfused with benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and o- and m-xylene (BTEX) and increasing concentrations of H[sub 2]O[sub 2]. Catalase and superoxide dismutase were induced, especially at the column inlets. Microbial numbers were higher at the column inlets. Abiotic H[sub 2]O[sub 2] decomposition was observed in a sterile column.

• Research Organization: Rice Univ., Houston, TX (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5710746
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Thesis (Ph.D.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
02 PETROLEUM
BIODEGRADATION
OPTIMIZATION
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
MICROORGANISMS
MULTI-PARAMETER ANALYSIS
CATALASE
ENZYME ACTIVITY
GASOLINE
MINERALIZATION
OXYGEN
SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE
TOLUENE
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
AROMATICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ELEMENTS
ENZYMES
FUELS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LIQUID FUELS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PEROXIDASES
PEROXIDES
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PROTEINS
540220* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
020900 - Petroleum- Environmental Aspects