Bioremediation of contaminated groundwater
Abstract
An apparatus and method are described for in situ remediation of contaminated subsurface soil or groundwater contaminated by chlorinated hydrocarbons. A nutrient fluid is selected to stimulate the growth and reproduction of indigenous subsurface microorganisms that are capable of degrading the contaminants. An oxygenated fluid is selected to create a generally aerobic environment for these microorganisms to degrade the contaminants, leaving only pockets that are anaerobic. The nutrient fluid is injected periodically while the oxygenated fluid is injected continuously and both are extracted so that both are drawn across the plume. The nutrient fluid stimulates microbial colony growth. Withholding it periodically forces the larger, healthy colony of microbes to degrade the contaminants. Treatment is continued until the subsurface concentration of contaminants is reduced to an acceptable, preselected level. The nutrient fluid can be methane and the oxygenated fluid air for stimulating production of methanotrophs to break down chlorohydrocarbons, especially trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene. 3 figures.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 6875670
- Patent Number(s):
- 5384048
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 8-207506
- Assignee:
- Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-89SR18035
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 8 Mar 1994
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS; BIODEGRADATION; GROUND WATER; DECONTAMINATION; SOILS; IN-SITU PROCESSING; METHANOTROPHIC BACTERIA; TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT; WATER POLLUTION CONTROL; BACTERIA; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; CLEANING; CONTROL; DECOMPOSITION; HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS; HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS; MICROORGANISMS; ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; POLLUTION CONTROL; PROCESSING; WATER; 540210* - Environment, Terrestrial- Basic Studies- (1990-)
Citation Formats
Hazen, T C, and Fliermans, C B. Bioremediation of contaminated groundwater. United States: N. p., 1995.
Web.
Hazen, T C, & Fliermans, C B. Bioremediation of contaminated groundwater. United States.
Hazen, T C, and Fliermans, C B. Tue .
"Bioremediation of contaminated groundwater". United States.
@article{osti_6875670,
title = {Bioremediation of contaminated groundwater},
author = {Hazen, T C and Fliermans, C B},
abstractNote = {An apparatus and method are described for in situ remediation of contaminated subsurface soil or groundwater contaminated by chlorinated hydrocarbons. A nutrient fluid is selected to stimulate the growth and reproduction of indigenous subsurface microorganisms that are capable of degrading the contaminants. An oxygenated fluid is selected to create a generally aerobic environment for these microorganisms to degrade the contaminants, leaving only pockets that are anaerobic. The nutrient fluid is injected periodically while the oxygenated fluid is injected continuously and both are extracted so that both are drawn across the plume. The nutrient fluid stimulates microbial colony growth. Withholding it periodically forces the larger, healthy colony of microbes to degrade the contaminants. Treatment is continued until the subsurface concentration of contaminants is reduced to an acceptable, preselected level. The nutrient fluid can be methane and the oxygenated fluid air for stimulating production of methanotrophs to break down chlorohydrocarbons, especially trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene. 3 figures.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1995},
month = {1}
}