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DEMONSTRATION OF A BIOAVAILABLE FERRIC IRON TEST KIT
Citation:
EVANS, P., M. TRUTE, R. OLSEN, R. CHAPPELL, J. EISENBEIS, C. LEBRON, J. T. WILSON, E. WEBBER, J. DREXLER, AND T. DICHRISTINA. DEMONSTRATION OF A BIOAVAILABLE FERRIC IRON TEST KIT. Presented at 4th International Battelle Conference, Monterey, CA, May 24 - 27, 2004.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public.
Description:
Bioavailable ferric iron (BAFeIII) is used by iron-reducing bacteria as an electron acceptor during the oxidation of various organic contaminants such as vinyl chloride and benzene. Quantification of BAFeIII is important with respect to characterizing candidate natural attenuation sites because it allows site managers determine whether sufficient assimilative capacity is available for continued contaminant transformation. Measurement of dissolved ferrous iron in groundwater samples gives no indication of this future assimilative capacity. A BAFeIII test kit has been developed and was demonstrated at multiple sites under the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program. This test kit is a bioassay that uses iron-reducing bacteria and allows direct measurement of BAFeIII in soil samples. Soil samples from the multiple sites were analyzed using the test kit and results were compared to other analyses conducted on the samples. These analyses included selective chemical extraction, microcosms, and electron microprobe analysis for mineral speciation. Results of these analyses will be presented along with practical implications of the BAFeIII test.