Feasibility of biodegradation of tetrachloroethylene in contaminated aquifers. Final report
Tetrachloroethylene, a solvent and de-greasing agent is widely spilled and disposed of on soil. It is easily transported in ground water, causing wide-spread aquifer contamination. Conventional technology for the treatment of solvent-contaminated aquifers, which involves pumping out the water and above-ground treatment by physical/chemical techniques, is slow and expensive. CAA Bioremediation Systems has carried out experiments to demonstrate the feasibility of in situ biodegradation of tetrachloroethllylene. The process would involve controlled addition of nutrients to the ground water to stimulate the activity of naturally occurring bacteria. A twenty-three liter laboratory aquifer simulator was constructed, filled with soil and amended ground water was recirculated throughout the soil. Methanogenic conditions were brought about in the reactor within 15 days and terachloroethylene was shown to degrade rapidly to dichloroethylene. Oxygen was then introduced and the oxidiation of dichlororethylene by methanotrophic bacteria was initiated. The aquifer simulator experiment indicated that aquifer conditions can be manipulated in situ to bring about the complete degradation of terachloroethylene.
- Research Organization:
- Cambridge Analytical Associates, Boston, MA (United States). Bioremediation Systems Div.
- OSTI ID:
- 5324370
- Report Number(s):
- PB-91-199778/XAB; CNN: NSF-ISI87-60424
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AQUIFERS
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL SPILLS
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
CONTROL
DECOMPOSITION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
GROUND WATER
GROWTH
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
METHANOTROPHIC BACTERIA
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION CONTROL
SIMULATION
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WATER
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL