Stabilization of microorganisms for in situ degradation of toxic chemicals

Technical Report · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:7128718

Crawford, R L; Stormo, K

We have developed methods to microencapsulate a petachlorophenol (PCP)-degrading Flavobacterium and a p-cresol (PCR)-degrading Pseudomonas within beads of 5-100 am diameter, and we examined these entrapped cells for their abilities to mineralize PCP and PCR in the presence of subsurface soils and waters obtained from the University of Idaho (UI) Groundwater Research Site (GRS). Matrixes employed to make beads included alginate, agarose, polyurethane, agarose coated. by polyurethane, and novel polyurethanes containing cross-linked sources of supplemental carbon and/or nitrogen sources. A low-pressure-nozzle apparatus was developed for the production of microspheres. We found that microencapsulated cells survived better and were catabolically more active than free cells in the presence of aquifer materials. Microcosm studies reported here confirmed that microbeads containing long-lived pollutant-degrading bacterial cells can be readily prepared in sizes that will travel through subsurface sand/gravel aquifer matrixes. Microencapsulated bacteria at PCP concentrations up to 275 ppM and free cells at PCP concentrations < 150 ppM can remain active for extended periods under simulated aquifer conditions. Periods of several months are certainly attainable. This should be sufficient time to effect significant environmental restoration through biodegradation of specific targeted pollutants.

• Research Organization: Idaho Univ., Moscow, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: FG07-89ER60847
• OSTI ID: 7128718
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER/60847-2; ON: DE92040792
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540230* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring &amp; Transport-- (1990-)
AQUIFERS
AROMATICS
BIODEGRADATION
CATALYST SUPPORTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IMMOBILIZED CELLS
LAND POLLUTION
LEVELS
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
PHENOLS
POLLUTION
PROGRESS REPORT
TOXIC MATERIALS
UNDERGROUND