Effects of nutrient dosing on subsurface methanotrophic populations and trichloroethylene degradation

In in situ bioremediation demonstration at the Savannah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina, trichloroethylene-degrading microorganisms were stimulated by delivering nutrients to the TCE-contaminated subsurface via horizontal injection wells. Microbial and chemical monitoring of groundwater from 12...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of industrial microbiology & biotechnology 1997-02, Vol.18 (2/3), p.204-212
Main Authors: Pfiffner, S.M. (Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN.), Palumbo, A.V, Phelps, T.J, Hazen, T.C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
BIODECONTAMINACION
Biodegradation, Environmental
BIOREMEDIATION
Chlorides - metabolism
Chlorides - pharmacology
Culture Media - pharmacology
Environmental Pollutants - metabolism
Environmental Pollution
Geologic Sediments - analysis
Groundwater
HIDROCARBUROS HALOGENADOS
HYDROCARBURE HALOGENE
Injection
Injection wells
Methane
Methane - analysis
Methane - metabolism
Methane - pharmacology
Methanomicrobiales - metabolism
Microbial activity
Microorganisms
Nitrogen
Nitrogen - analysis
Nitrogen - metabolism
Nitrogen - pharmacology
Nutrients
Phosphorus - analysis
Phosphorus - metabolism
Phosphorus - pharmacology
Solvents
Trichloroethene
Trichloroethylene
Trichloroethylene - analysis
Trichloroethylene - metabolism
Water Microbiology
Water monitoring
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:In in situ bioremediation demonstration at the Savannah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina, trichloroethylene-degrading microorganisms were stimulated by delivering nutrients to the TCE-contaminated subsurface via horizontal injection wells. Microbial and chemical monitoring of groundwater from 12 vertical wells was used to examine the effects of methane and nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) dosing on the methanotrophic populations and or the potential of the subsurface microbial communities to degrade TCE. Densities of methanotrophs increased 3-5 orders of magnitude during the methane- and nutrient-injection phases; this increase coincided with the higher methane levels observed in the monitoring wells. TCE degradation capacity, although not directly tied to methane concentration, responded to the methane injection, and responded more dramatically to the multiple-nutrient injection. These results support the crucial role of methane, nitrogen, and phosphorus as amended nutrients in TCE bioremediation. The enhancing effects of nutrient dosing on microbial abundance and degradative potentials, coupled with increased chloride concentrations, provided multiple lines of evidence substantiating the effectiveness of this integrated in situ bioremediation process
ISSN:1367-5435
1476-5535
DOI:10.1038/sj.jim.2900350