Field Evidence for Co-Metabolism of Trichloroethene Stimulated by Addition of Electron Donor to Groundwater

For more than 10 years, electron donor has been injected into the Snake River aquifer beneath the Test Area North site of the Idaho National Laboratory for the purpose of stimulating microbial reductive dechlorination of trichloroethene (TCE) in groundwater. This has resulted in significant TCE remo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 2010-06, Vol.44 (12), p.4697-4704
Main Authors: Conrad, Mark E, Brodie, Eoin L, Radtke, Corey W, Bill, Markus, Delwiche, Mark E, Lee, M. Hope, Swift, Dana L, Colwell, Frederick S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Aquifers
Bacteria - metabolism
Biodegradation, Environmental
Bioremediation
Carbon Isotopes
Contamination
Ecosystem
Electrons
Environmental science
Exact sciences and technology
Geography
Groundwater
Groundwater pollution
Hydrocarbons
Idaho
Metabolism
Methane - metabolism
Microorganisms
Oxidation
Pollution
Remediation and Control Technologies
Ribonucleic acid
Rivers
RNA
Soil - analysis
Time Factors
Trichloroethylene - metabolism
Water Supply - analysis
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Summary:For more than 10 years, electron donor has been injected into the Snake River aquifer beneath the Test Area North site of the Idaho National Laboratory for the purpose of stimulating microbial reductive dechlorination of trichloroethene (TCE) in groundwater. This has resulted in significant TCE removal from the source area of the contaminant plume and elevated dissolved CH4 in the groundwater extending 250 m from the injection well. The δ13C of the CH4 increases from −56‰ in the source area to −13‰ with distance from the injection well, whereas the δ13C of dissolved inorganic carbon decreases from 8‰ to −13‰, indicating a shift from methanogenesis to methane oxidation. This change in microbial activity along the plume axis is confirmed by PhyloChip microarray analyses of 16S rRNA genes obtained from groundwater microbial communities, which indicate decreasing abundances of reductive dechlorinating microorganisms (e.g., Dehalococcoides ethenogenes) and increasing CH4-oxidizing microorganisms capable of aerobic co-metabolism of TCE (e.g., Methylosinus trichosporium). Incubation experiments with 13C-labeled TCE introduced into microcosms containing basalt and groundwater from the aquifer confirm that TCE co-metabolism is possible. The results of these studies indicate that electron donor amendment designed to stimulate reductive dechlorination of TCE may also stimulate co-metabolism of TCE.
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/es903535j