Potential new bioremediation technique of PCBs
University of Michigan environmental engineers may have found a way to destroy toxic PCBs in contaminated riverbed sediments using sequential treatments with anaerobic and aerobic bacteria. According to the researchers, the process is the first to breakdown successfully PCBs in contaminated sediments. First anaerobic organisms remove chlorine atoms from PCBs, making them less toxic. Then aerobic bacteria chemically convert PCBs to carbon dioxide and water. The trick is putting oxygen into the system to create the switch from anaerobic to aerobic degradation. To date concentrations have been reduced from 300 mg/L to about 50 mg/L and work continues to attempt to perfect the process. EPA has been requested to test the sequential anaerobic-aerobic process on PBC-contaminated Superfund sites near Sheboygan, WI.
- OSTI ID:
- 6315406
- Journal Information:
- Water Environment amp Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Water Environment amp Technology; (United States) Vol. 4:2; ISSN WAETEJ; ISSN 1044-9493
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Bioremediation of PCBs. CRADA final report
Aerobic and anaerobic PCB biodegradation in the environment
Related Subjects
540220* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
540250 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (1990-)
AEROBIC DIGESTION
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
AROMATICS
BACTERIA
BIOCONVERSION
BIODEGRADATION
BREAKDOWN
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
CHLORINE
CONTAMINATION
DECOMPOSITION
DIGESTION
ELEMENTS
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
HALOGENS
MANAGEMENT
MICROORGANISMS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS
PROCESSING
REMEDIAL ACTION
SEDIMENTS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING