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SOLID OXYGEN SOURCE FOR BIOREMEDIATION IN SUBSURFACE SOILS
Citation:
Vesper, S J., L. C. Murdoch, S Hayes*, AND W. J. DAVIS-HOOVER. SOLID OXYGEN SOURCE FOR BIOREMEDIATION IN SUBSURFACE SOILS. W. Choi, M.F. Fingas, J. Gardea-Torresday, G. Lyberatos, and J.H. Tay (ed.), JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 36(3):265-274, (1994).
Impact/Purpose:
To describe the results of the experiments designed to evaluate the effectiveness of encapsulated sodium percarbonate as a source of oxygen to support biodegradation under laboratory test conditions.
Description:
Sodium percarbonate was encapsulated in poly(vinylidene chloride) to determine its potential as a slow-release oxygen source for biodegradation of contaminan ts in subsurface soils. In laboratory studies under aqueous conditions, the encapsulated sodium percarbonate was estimated to release oxygen over about a two-month period. Microbial survival in the presence of encapsulated sodium percarbonate was markedly increased compared to the unencapsulated compound. In laboratory studies, the encapsulated sodium percarbonate was used to provide oxygen as an electron acceptor for microorganisms during the biodegradation of propylene glycol. In 30 days at 12oC (similar to subsurface soil temperatures), the concentration of propylene glycol was reduced tenfold and the number of propylene glycol degrading organisms increased tenfold compared to live controls without the encapsulated sodium percarbonate. Killed controls did not show significantly reduced concentrations of propylene glycol compared to the live controls. Acidic soil conditions (pH 4.7) were neutralized to a pH of about 8.3 by the encapsulated sodium percarbonate.
