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Title: Effects of diverse organic contaminants on trichloroethylene degradation by methanotrophic bacteria and methane-utilizing consortia

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5868214
; ;  [1];  [2]; ;  [3]
  1. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA). Environmental Sciences Div.
  2. Tennessee Univ., Memphis, TN (USA). Center for Health Sciences
  3. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA). Chemical Technology Div.

Groundwater contaminated with organic compounds, especially solvents such as benzene, trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethene (PCE), carbon tetrachloride, and chlorinated ethanes, is a problem at many US Department of Energy facilities including the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Regulations require consideration of alternatives for remediation of these sites. A demonstration project was initiated in the spring of 1990 that will permit evaluation of two cometabolic approaches to remediation of groundwater and may lead to remediation alternatives that prove both more effective and less costly than traditional methods. More generally, the demonstration will provide valuable information on the applicability of bioremediation to a groundwater contamination problem at numerous DOE sites. The purpose of this research is to examine the effects of contaminants commonly found in association with TCE at DOE sites and to determine the conditions required for maximizing TCE degradation rates. This study focuses on compounds found in a seep at the ORNL K-25 site. The research presented here details initial experiments on TCE degradation by methanotrophs conducted in the presence of a synthetic medium, TCE, and one or more contaminants found at the K-25 site. Formate has been reported to increase the rate of TCE degradation by pure cultures but had not been tested with mixed cultures. As part of the effort to maximize TCE degradation rates, we examined the effect of formate on degradation by a mixed culture. 5 figs., 1 tab.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400
OSTI ID:
5868214
Report Number(s):
CONF-9103114-3; ON: DE91010778
Resource Relation:
Conference: In situ and on-site bioreclamation: an international symposium, San Diego, CA (USA), 19-21 Mar 1991
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English