Bioremediation of TCE contaminated groundwater using aerobic bioaugmentation: Field demonstration
- Camp Dresser and McKee Inc., Denver, CO (United States)
- Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO (United States)
Groundwater throughout the central district of Wichita, Kansas, is contaminated with trichloroethene (TCE) and dichloroethene (DCE). A field study demonstrated the feasibility of aerobic bioremediation using bioaugmentation with Burkholderia cepacia PR1{sub 301} to degrade the chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs). The CAH biodegradative capabilities of the strain are unique because it is constitutive for toluene ortho-monooxygenase (TOM). Field trials were conducted with PR1 grown to high cell densities and high TOM activity and continuously added to the groundwater with oxygen through an injection well. Monitoring points were installed 5 days hydraulic flow upgradient and 2, 5, 10, and 15 days downgradient from the injection well. A bromide groundwater tracer study was used to determine hydraulic flow, flowpath and retardation of oxygen, contaminants and microorganisms. Oxygen was retarded in the soil formation by 60 days but this could not be attributed to reduced constituents or microbial activity. The field test was amended to determine the feasibility of a biological barrier which would effectively remove all contaminants from the groundwater flowing through it. The injection well simulated the trench with an average 250 ppb total CAHs moving through the system. The microorganisms degraded to non-detect all contaminants in the aerobic system within 24 hours following injection and maintained that level for 4 days. Total mass of contaminants degraded during the test period is estimated at 10.23 mg, or 94.5 {micro}g/L/h. The test system formed an effective removal barrier for contamination allowing clean groundwater to flow downgradient of the injection well. This was the first demonstration that bioaugmentation could effectively degrade CAHs using a laboratory developed strain. CDM is designing an in-ground trench for maintaining a biological barrier to prevent further migration of groundwater contaminates at the Gilbert-Mosley site.
- OSTI ID:
- 488812
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9610152-; TRN: IM9728%%3
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 17. Superfund hazardous waste conference, Washington, DC (United States), 15-17 Oct 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of Hazwaste world, Superfund XVII: Conference proceedings; PB: 879 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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