Determining in situ biodegradation
- Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)
The evolutionary role of microorganisms as effective agents causing the destruction and recycling of organic materials in the biosphere is well established. Nonetheless, in situ biodegradation of organic contaminant compounds is very difficult to prove because the uncontrollability of field sites may prevent the assembly of mass balances and the identification of microbiological contributions to contaminant loss. Several convergent lines of independent evidence from a field site are necessary including laboratory assays for site-containing metabolically adapted organisms, concentration profiles at the site of contaminant losses which indicate microbial metabolism and unequivocal distinctions between biotic and abiotic attenuating processes. Quantitative evidence of in situ biodegradation, lacking in the past, is necessary to prove the efficacy of the biotic process. Three long term challenges for biodegradation scientists that need to be addressed in the future are quantitative determination of in situ biodegradation rates, extension of this determination to complex mixtures of organic compounds, and achievement of a level of contaminant attenuation that complies with health standards set by regulatory agencies. The importance of these challenges cannot be overemphasized.
- OSTI ID:
- 5177459
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Science and Technology; (United States), Vol. 25:10; ISSN 0013-936X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ORGANIC WASTES
BIODEGRADATION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
DECONTAMINATION
EVALUATION
GROUND WATER
LAND RECLAMATION
POLLUTANTS
SOILS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
WASTE PROCESSING
WATER RECLAMATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLEANING
DECOMPOSITION
ECOSYSTEMS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MANAGEMENT
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WATER
540250* - Environment
Terrestrial- Site Resource & Use Studies- (1990-)
540350 - Environment
Aquatic- Site Resource & Use Studies- (1990-)