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BATCH AND COLUMN STUDIES ON BTEX BIODEGRADATION BY AQUIFER MICROORGANISMS UNDER DENITRIFYING CONDITIONS
Citation:
Hutchins*, S R., D. W. Rhodes, AND S. W. Moolenaar. BATCH AND COLUMN STUDIES ON BTEX BIODEGRADATION BY AQUIFER MICROORGANISMS UNDER DENITRIFYING CONDITIONS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/R-94/137 (NTIS 95-148417), 1994.
Impact/Purpose:
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Description:
The objective of these laboratory experiments was to determine the role nitrate plays in enhancing the biodegradation of fuel contaminated groundwater. Column studies were conducted to simulate the nitrate field demonstration project carried out earlier at Traverse City, MI so as to quantify the benefits of nitrate addition on BTEX removal. Columns were operated under limited oxygen, limited oxygen with nitrate, or nitrate alone conditions. atch microcosms were conducted to evaluate BTEX biodegradation with either air (aerobic), nitrate (denitrifying), nitrous oxide (denitrifying), or no added electron acceptor. Results indicate that the alkylbenzenes can be degraded under denitrifying conditions and under denitrifying conditions with a limited amount of oxygen present. he use of nitrous oxide had similar results to that of nitrate. Benzene was generally recalcitrant under strictly denitrifying conditions, regardless of whether nitrate or nitrous oxide was used. Results suggest a mixed oxygen/nitrate system could be used for biodegradation of fuel contaminated aquifers.