Differential patterns of intrinsic biodegradation of chlorinated aliphatic compounds
- Beak Consultants Ltd., Guelph, Ontario (Canada)
- Beak Consultants Ltd., Kirkland, WA (United States)
Chlorinated aliphatic compounds such as tetrachloroethane (PCE), trichloroethane (TCE), trichloroethane (TCA), carbon tetrachloride (CT), chloroform (CF), and dichloromethane (DCM) have been widely used in a variety of applications as solvents, chemical feedstocks, and dry-cleaning agents, and are frequently detected as contaminants in groundwater. Due largely to the chemical attributes of these volatile organic compounds (VOCs), remediation of aquifers containing these chemicals is extremely costly, long-term, and in many cases impracticable. Field investigations over the past few years have shown that these compounds, in the dissolved phase, can be intrinsically (naturally) biodegraded by the indigenous microbiota in many aquifers, under a range of redox conditions. The potential exists to develop intrinsic bioremediation as a remediation alternative for some chlorinated solvent sites, provided that an adequate understanding of the complex interactions between the microbial, geochemical, and flow and transport processes can be gained. The authors have conducted evaluations of intrinsic biodegradation of chlorinated VOCs in the groundwater at more than two dozen sites. This paper summarizes the results of selected field investigations that the authors have conducted, identifies the common processes that are occurring at these sites, and discusses the implication of investigating and remediating sites contaminated with chlorinated aliphatic chemicals.
- OSTI ID:
- 435460
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9606300--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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