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Title: Toxicity reduction associated with bioremediation of gasoline-contaminated groundwaters

Journal Article · · Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00191759· OSTI ID:6571871
; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. San Diego State Univ., CA (United States)
  2. San Diego Gas Electric Co., CA (United States)

In-situ biodegradation has received increasing attention as a method to remediate gasoline-contaminated soils and groundwaters. Typically, oxygen is added to enhance aerobic biodegradation. However, since oxygen is not very soluble in water and is difficult to distribute uniformly throughout an aquifer, nitrate has been investigated as an alternate electron acceptor. Nitrate has recently been used to stimulate BTX (benzene, toluene and xylene) biodegradation in the laboratory and in field-scale tests on gasoline contaminated aquifers. Since there are hundreds of organic compounds in gasoline, the possibility exists that there are toxic intermediate metabolites or byproducts formed by biodegradation which may still exert toxicity. Unfortunately there is no information on the degree of toxicity reduction associated with BTX biodegradation under denitrifying conditions. This study used the Ceriodaphnia acute toxicity test to determine the degree of toxicity reduction associated with remediation of gasoline-contaminated groundwaters under denitrifying conditions, and compared these results to those for the aerobic process. 7 refs., 4 figs., 2 tabs.

OSTI ID:
6571871
Journal Information:
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (United States), Vol. 49:2; ISSN 0007-4861
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English